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    North Market “Sip n Stroll” Legislation Passes Ohio Legislature

    Business opportunities are expanding for the vendors of North Market after legislation passed permitting market-goers to “sip n stroll” with their purchased alcohol.

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    House bill 37, first considered in September of 2014, was approved by the Ohio General Assembly Wednesday. Co-sponsors of the bill, Columbus City Councilmember and former representative, Michael Stinziano (D-Columbus) and Rep. Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) said the bill merely bring places like the North Market up to speed with supermarkets like Kroger and Market District.

    “The North Market is one of the jewels of Columbus and we should do everything we can to promote the small business people working here,” Stinziano said. “Our North Market truly showcases the ‘best of the best’ in entrepreneurship and I’m excited to further enhance the North Market experience for consumers and visitors.”

    North Market Executive Director Rick Harrison Wolfe is equally excited about the progress of the legislation, and says that it will bring new customers, new shoppers and new energy to the market.

    “The North Market actually initiated the conversation for the ‘Sip and Stroll’ legislation shortly after I started three years ago — and while HB 37 started as a bill specific to North Market, it grew and was amended to include other groundbreaking legislation, such s higher ABV for Ohio,” said Wolfe. “We are grateful to Duffey, Boggs and Stinziano for their tireless efforts to make this happen, and we’re hoping Governor Kasich will join us at North Market to sign this bill and celebrate.”

    Jen Burton, co-owner of The Barrel and Bottle at the North Market, said it’s a long-awaited change.

    “We are the ones who’ve been pushing for this,” Burton said in an email. “We heard the moment it passed and cannot wait to offer ‘to-go’ pints and glasses of wine for shoppers to enjoy while they shop the rest of the market!”

    The Barrel and Bottle adjusted for the sip-n-stroll restriction around the time the bill was first introduced. To keep up with competition, the shop added an area for patrons to have a beer or glass of wine while they sit and eat.

    Now patrons can taste-test freely, and businesses can offer tastings without needing an enclosed expansion.

    “House Bill 37 supports small business by permitting visitors of the North Market to enjoy a drink while shopping and allows merchants to hold wine and beer tastings like supermarkets across Ohio,” said Stinziano “The North Market in Columbus is a great example of a market that will benefit from a sip and stroll policy.”

    The bill is now headed to Gov. John Kasich and will go into effect 90 days after he signs it.

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    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
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