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YouTubeMy cousin and his wife flew in from Philly last weekend for a wedding. They have always had the impression that Columbus is just a hick town. He had not been here for 15 years, she had never been here. After they checked into the Westin, they decided to walk to dinner. My cousin spent 10 minutes on his Blackberry trying to find City Center or Lazarus, he didn’t know they were gone. They walked up High Street and were shocked to see it was nothing but empty store fronts, parking lots and anything else was closed for the day. This was around 6pm on Friday. They finally found Barrio on High St and had dinner. They really liked the place, but he could not believe how Downtown has deteriated during the last 15 years. The waiter at Barrio told him the Arena District has a few places and Gay Street has a couple of restaurants but that’s about it. He asked about the Brewery District and was told everything there is closed down. The waiter told him the Short North is about the only place where anything is going on, but he remembered it from years before and thought it was too much of ruff neck area for his wife. The next morning the checked out of the hotel, then checked into the Hilton at Easton, needless to say they loved it.
I quess from an outsider’s viewpoint, downtown, especially High Street has deteriorated during the last 15 years. With empty lots, empty storefronts and only 1 or 2 restaurants between the courthouse and Nationwide, it would be pretty shocking. They said Philly politicians have done a lot to improve the Center City, but Columbus politicos could obviously care less. Downtown is now like Dublin, Westerville or Lancaster, unless you work or live in those places, there is really no reason to go there.
He said he remembered the last time he was here in the mid 90s, German Village to the south, the Short North developing, City Center thriving and talk of a Arena, he thought High Street would be like a mini version of Michigan Ave, lined with condos, shops and restaurants, but, today, it’s a mini version of Dayton!!!
Not to be political, but maybe it’s time for a positive change.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Embarrassed by High Street
[239 posts] [70 contributors]
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RoundTowner
Miranova
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Posted 1 year ago # -
dru
IV
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is dated knowledge really anyone's fault? sure City Center failed so they missed a top-notch dining experience at Spinnakers. But the GV still has what he remembered, the SN is obviously a lot more than he remembered and they didn't even visit Gay Street or the AD which were empty voids 15-years ago. I would also say he must have failed to notice the Miranova and other river south developments. or the new restaurants emerging on 4th in the past 15-years The development hasn't happened up or down High in the city center as he presumed, but a lot has happened in that time frame. A little advanced planning for the trip could have countered his assumptions and given them a heads up about where to stay or head (i.e Howl at the Moon in the BD is closed, head to Big Bang in the AD for your piano bar fix).
and being employed out of Phili, I seldom hear anyone praising Phili politicians for much of anything.
This doesn't necessarily excuse the state of High downtown, there really is nothing to get excited about near the Westin.
Posted 1 year ago # -
MichaelC
Short North
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Your friends' concerns about High Street are certainly known to the city, which is why plans have been drawn up to resuscitate that street, and were included in the city's recent 10-year plan.
Columbus has improved drastically since the mid-1990s; that your friends didn't get to experience that is too bad, and hopefully in the future High Street will be the thriving avenue we all want it to be.
Posted 1 year ago # -
lifeliberty
Here
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need more of this http://www.foxyoungstown.com/content/news/local/story/Youngstown-Waives-Fees-to-Help-Restaurant-Expand/Lg-awRoHIUuWerNYnpkfoQ.cspx
Youngstown City Council, Wednesday night, voted to waive all fees to help the owners of the Rosetta Stone, a downtown restaurant, to expand.
Posted 1 year ago # -
gk
columbus, ohio
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RoundTowner wrote >>
My cousin and his wife flew in from Philly last weekend for a wedding. They have always had the impression that Columbus is just a hick town. He had not been here for 15 years, she had never been here. After they checked into the Westin, they decided to walk to dinner. My cousin spent 10 minutes on his Blackberry trying to find City Center or Lazarus, he didn’t know they were gone. They walked up High Street and were shocked to see it was nothing but empty store fronts, parking lots and anything else was closed for the day. This was around 6pm on Friday. They finally found Barrio on High St and had dinner. They really liked the place, but he could not believe how Downtown has deteriated during the last 15 years. The waiter at Barrio told him the Arena District has a few places and Gay Street has a couple of restaurants but that’s about it. He asked about the Brewery District and was told everything there is closed down. The waiter told him the Short North is about the only place where anything is going on, but he remembered it from years before and thought it was too much of ruff neck area for his wife. The next morning the checked out of the hotel, then checked into the Hilton at Easton, needless to say they loved it.
I quess from an outsider’s viewpoint, downtown, especially High Street has deteriorated during the last 15 years. With empty lots, empty storefronts and only 1 or 2 restaurants between the courthouse and Nationwide, it would be pretty shocking. They said Philly politicians have done a lot to improve the Center City, but Columbus politicos could obviously care less. Downtown is now like Dublin, Westerville or Lancaster, unless you work or live in those places, there is really no reason to go there.
He said he remembered the last time he was here in the mid 90s, German Village to the south, the Short North developing, City Center thriving and talk of a Arena, he thought High Street would be like a mini version of Michigan Ave, lined with condos, shops and restaurants, but, today, it’s a mini version of Dayton!!!
Not to be political, but maybe it’s time for a positive change.I agree. For those staying in the major downtown hotels, Columbus' main boulevards - High Street and Broad Street - give visitors the image of a depressed city. Not very welcoming or energizing. It may also make visitors uncomfortable walking the streets of our downtown - whether to go to GV, AD or SN.
Posted 1 year ago # -
colrex7
Ohio
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Oh c'mon, it's not that bad! Yes it's a little rough around the edges, but that's one thing I really like about it. It will be exciting to see how DT grows in the coming years. And in the meantime I love DT and am NOT embarrassed at all!
This might help..... Think of DT as Marilyn Monroe's mole. You can either see it as something ugly and distracting...or you can play off of it's flaws and embrace it. Downtown needs some embracing, and of course it won't come from out of town couples from the East Coast.
Posted 1 year ago # -
lifeliberty
Here
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yeah, I always feel bad for visitors staying at the Westin and are walking around trying to find something to do nearby. I normally run into them on Fridays after 5 when the visitors are struck with the exodus of the dayworkers and the police managing the the bus stops between Town and Rich. shulda stayed at the Hyatt on nationwide or the Renaissance on Gay if they want walkable
Posted 1 year ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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RoundTowner wrote >>
The waiter told him the Short North is about the only place where anything is going on, but he remembered it from years before and thought it was too much of ruff neck area for his wife.Sounds like he didn't do any reading and ignored any recommendations and decided to go off his 15 year outdated conceptions of Columbus.
As for Downtown being dead? I'd agree that there are plenty of dead spots at night with a few hot spots which is much like any other more or less healthy city our size (and bigger).
There are a number of factors that contribute to this including difficulties starting a business, the economy and absentee landlords who couldn't care if their buildings are rented or not (never did understand that).
As long as we have those hot spots and we keep growing them, I'm happy.
To be perfectly honest I'd be happier to see the city get out of the way of business owners than to promise any more "City Center" or "Arena" type development solutions.
Posted 1 year ago # -
RBloodworth
Baja Beechwold
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What, the bail bonds shops, abandoned storefronts and surface parking lots don't do anything for you?
Sad to say, the area of High Street south of Broad is pretty much a wasteland. It's pretty inexcusable, really. That being said, it sounds like the people in the original poster's story were guided solely by their parochial prejudices and dated impressions of the city (no offense to any Philadelphians here, but that is kind of a typical Philly stereotype). That, and the fact that these people apparently "loved" their experience at Easton, tells me that these two weren't exactly of the urban hipster mindset. While I agree that High Street needs to be drastically improved, this story doesn't really wound my civic pride.
Posted 1 year ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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RBloodworth wrote >>
While I agree that High Street needs to be drastically improved, this story doesn't really wound my civic pride.'zakly.
That said, I've seen the same "desolation" with areas of activity when visiting the downtowns of numerous mid-sized cities all over the US and I don't really find Columbus to be that much worse (or better for that matter) than average.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Nitsud Regnifloh
Valerio Heights
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all of you that complain that Columbus is dead at night downtown, do something about it. come downtown after hours, eat there, drink there, walk around. but, you'd all rather sit in front of your computers and bitch.
Posted 1 year ago # -
cc
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berdawn wrote >>
man, it's a shame your friend doesn't have the internet.I am not so sure I would feel the need to be googling to see if they tore down the mall I was at last time I visited a city. I have also had people I know pop into Columbus casually and were surprised to find it missing. There are now alternative places to go in Columbus and I guided them there.
I think the op's post is more informative of the questionable 'big project' mentality mentioned in the 'Ghosts of Columbus Past' thread.
We need more North Market type projects and less City Centers and Arena/Continent/Brewery Districts...
Posted 1 year ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Nitsud Regnifloh wrote >>
all of you that complain that Columbus is dead at night downtown, do something about it. come downtown after hours, eat there, drink there, walk around. but, you'd all rather sit in front of your computers and bitch.Give us a break, maybe we're all hungover from going drinking downtown last night. :-D
Posted 1 year ago # -
AmyJ
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And from the Westin, had they turned right instead of heading up High Street, they would have been 3 or so blocks from Dirty Frank's and Little Palace. German Village is a hop, skip and a jump away as well. A little prior research would have served them well.
Posted 1 year ago #
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