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Press Release:
ColumbusUnderground.com Relocating to New Office Space Downtown on Gay Street
To continue ColumbusUnderground.com’s commitment to the growing vibrancy of Downtown Columbus, Walker Evans is moving the company’s office to a space on one of the city’s most vibrant areas – Gay Street. Since the recent completion of the two-way conversion and beautification projects, Gay Street has seen many new entrepreneurs opening their businesses.
“Gay Street is the perfect place for my business to grow and to make sure that my front door is literally opening to the most exciting area of Columbus,” says Evans. “It is the perfect time for Columbus Underground to join the thriving businesses along the Gay Street corridor.”
“The future of our city relies on creative entrepreneurs being able to start their business and grow,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “I’m proud to see Columbus Underground setting up shop on Gay Street, right at the heart of Downtown’s comeback.”
Evans founded ColumbusUnderground.com in November 2001 as a unique online resource to showcase entertainment, events, and restaurant reviews throughout the city. Columbus Underground has always been a community-driven website, and as time has passed, the site has grown and diversified to encompass a variety of other local topics such as urban development, the independent art scene, in-depth personal interviews, city politics, and more.
As of December 2009, ColumbusUnderground.com has grown to over 60,000 unique visitors per month and over 6.8 million pageviews per year. Readers of the website represent a young, educated, active demographic within Central Ohio. Columbus Underground also offers many opportunities for readers to attend official gatherings at local restaurants, bars, meetings, and volunteer events.
“Columbus Underground brings an exciting generational focus to Downtown,” said Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director of Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District. “I’m hoping that Columbus Underground creates a stampede of people in their 20s and 30s who come Downtown to open businesses, advocate for good urban policies, and live. I want Columbus Underground readers to own Downtown.”
Currently, around a dozen freelancers work as writers, web developers, and advertising sales managers for Columbus Underground. The flexible office space will allow the gradual addition of new full time staff members to the company. “I’d love to add a dozen new creative jobs Downtown in the next two or three years,” said Evans. “As the company continues to rapidly grow, we’re working hard on moving in that direction.”
“The arrival of Columbus Underground to our building solidifies the momentum and progress Gay Street has made over the last 5 years,” said Jeff Mathes, owner of Due Amici, the popular Italian restaurant located directly below the new Columbus Underground office space. “Columbus Underground has become the go-to place to get information, especially for those interested in the urban core of our city.”
The move into the new office, located at 65 E. Gay Street Suite 230, will be completed on January 1, 2010.
Congrats, may 2010 bring more great news.
Congrats, Walker! So happy for you. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for Columbus Underground. :)
so this is why you were against parking meter increases… awfully selfish mr. evans. :)
Congratulations Walker!
Good for you and CU – very exciting! I am hoping you get a few of the new user-friendly credit card meters put in your general area first. Name suggestion: Gay Street: Columbus Underground District (lol)
yay! now, i have someone to bug on my lunch break!!
You must be getting way too big for the space if you’re giving up the convenience of working at home.
Great Time! It was really nice to see everyone again, and meet a few new folks!
Thanks again Walker!
Reading this post (congrats by the way) reminds me when I used to work in the Arena District and on my way to get coffee at Starbucks I used to see the offices for MOQVO which was some kind of local social media company. Anyone know what the heck happened to these guys?
MOQVO became ‘steamright’.
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/moqvo
Congratulations, Walker!
Welcome to the neighborhood, Walker! I think we all have the same vision and desire to continue its growth and vibrancy — thanks for becoming the newest neighbor.
Mazel tov!
Good luck on Gay Street. Now I can walk over and bother you when I take my walks.
Now your so much closer to the Santa Maria and Hoy Toy!
wow Im really excited for this. That s awsome. but it seems like you can t call it underground anymore. You ll have to call it Columbus Above ground . HAHAHA …. well i thought i was funny,
cc Says: Does it have a parkinglot? :)
Half of Downtown is a parking lot! ;) Seriously though, I picked this location as it’s a 20-minute walk from my house in the warmer months and a 7-minute bus ride in the colder months. ;) No need for the car!
surber17 Says: Congrats! any plans for taking advantage of the downtown grant money?
That new grant program is for exterior application to ground-floor retail, so I don’t think CU would be applicable for it.
DavidF Says: Kinda shocking to find out I’m too old for CU ‘tho.
swan Says: so this is why you were against parking meter increases… awfully selfish mr. evans. :)
Ha! Well, it was a big factor that was giving me pause on signing up for this office space. I actually waited until after the meter issues were resolved before committing to it. So there was a little bit of selfishness behind my push for a smarter solution to the meter rates, but ultimately, what’s bad for Downtown is going to be bad for all of Columbus as a whole. Or at least that’s how I tried to look at it. ;)
johnwirtz Says: You must be getting way too big for the space if you’re giving up the convenience of working at home.
Well, as I’m sure anyone who’s worked from home is aware… thre are pros and cons. Nice to be able to work some mornings while still in the PJs, but there’s also plenty of distractions at home that are a drain on productivity. Time to move into a spot where I can put my nose down and work. ;)
Thanks again on all of the welcome messages everyone! I really appreciate it! :D
Perfect timing to get out of the home with another “distraction” on the way ;) Congratulations!! Good to see that you are “movin’ on up”