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The former Skambo location at the corner of Gay Street and Pearl Alley has sat empty for over two years, but that should be changing soon. New signage in the windows indicates that the space will soon be the new home of J. Gumbo’s, a Louisville-based cajun and creole restaurant. Their menu includes a variety of soups, stews, and chilis including Jambalaya and Etouffee as well as salads, appetizers, po’ boys, and muffalettas. No opening date has been announced as of yet, but we’ll provide more updates and information soon.
Comments
- cheap: i highly recommend the Millersport sweet corn festival of course,the cor
- Jimmy Mak: Thanks for the write-up! Just to clarify - this is the third year we've do
- Briana Henry: Well, eventually they plan to add more bands from the region...gotta start
- bucki12: I like the business model, but the internet sales part seems like something
- racheltb: I don't see the Ohio Shrimp Fest on the list. It is truly a good time. h
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J. Gumbo’s Coming Soon to Gay Street
By: Walker
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I really like that location and space. I had been looking at it for a fresh/local lunch spot and carry out market. It looks like J. Gumbo and C-town Deli and Market beat me to it. I wish them both success.
This is interesting that they are out of Louisville. I was very impressed with the food I had when I was down there, and like Columbus they have an “up and coming” downtown. I hope they can make it happen.. I do love the space.. Last I heard it was going for $4500/m I wonder if they talked them down…
Well, it is quite the prime location. I’ve always thought it was going to take a chain lunch spot to meet the high lease rate. I’m just glad it’s a smaller KY-based chain that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the region and not something like a Panera.
Not knocking Panera though. Perhaps they can take the Soupman’s spot around the corner if they end up moving out. ;)
Really excited to try them out. Sounds like a great new addition!
all I have to say is…
mmmmm….jambalaya
From Kentucky, I can tell you that this place is pretty loved in Louisville, and the food is really good for a chain. I’m just glad it’s not another Cosi.
I’m sure they’re not paying that high of rent. Last I heard you could get it for mid teens per square foot (so more like $2,500 per month). If they don’t make it rent will not be the cause.
I’m really glad someone took that corner and hope they can make a long run.
Menu looks pretty interesting. I look forward to trying them out!
It will be a shorter drive than going to Creole Kitchen but good luck beating the quality of food.
What i don’t like is that the food is not prepared/cooked on site. it is just heated up for you. But I know of at least a couple other places doing this. I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem as good when it happens this way. it’s right down the street and it’s cheap, I’ll check it out.
lately i have wondered why Gay Street hasnt caught on to retailers and eateries. this may be the start.
Well, there’s not really too many vacancies along Gay Street that a restaurant space can easily fill. The ones that are empty seem better posed for retail, which I’d like to think we’ll see fill in slowly over the next few years. I think it’s still going to take some very specialty types of retailers that are going to be destination spots.
I keep hoping retail comes next. Going to lunch/dinner at Due Amici or Tip Top would be a better option if unique retail were on the same street.
Hi all. Thank you for your feedback regarding J. Gumbo’s Columbus and the great location at Gay and Pearl. Although J. Gumbo’s is based in Louisville, KY, this location will be owned and operated by Columbus residents. From the moment we found this space, we were very interested in it…and we looked at many. Since we signed our lease, other Gay Street spaces also been leased and we hope that the vibrancy of the area continues.
We are currently working on remodeling and all of the other fun stuff that comes along with transforming a space, so we haven’t set an opening date quite yet. We’re there often, so feel free to stop by and say hi – the front door is usually open.
We hope to feature local artists on our walls and over time, we will host happy hours (pending that beer permit, of course) and live bands.
Thanks for your support and we welcome your feedback.
Chad and Tim
jgumboscolumbus@yahoo.com
Thanks for posting the update! Looking forward to the grand opening! :D
Just met Chad this afternoon for coffee. Great guy! We are thrilled to have him as a neighbor on Gay Street, it’s a great addition to our strip. Looking forward to another patio to eat and drink at downtown!
i just got back from naw’lins, and i was depressed that it would probably be some time before i was able to get good creole cooking again. hope this is as good as you all say. sounds like a great new lunch spot for me.
gmcsoccer Says: i was depressed that it would probably be some time before i was able to get good creole cooking again.
Not to steal any thunder from J. Gumbo’s, but have you tried Creole Kitchen? Take-out only, and a bit of a “hole in the wall” type place, but really great authentic food. And cheap. ;)
I was pretty disappointed with my first meal from J. Gumbo’s downtown. Stale bread (actually the bottom half of a po’ boy bun), gumbo was watery and a distinct dirt-like taste, and large bits of inedible bay leaf were floating around. I took a bite, and tossed it, even thought I’m starving. Also – the to-go containers are not very sturdy. I’ll give them another shot in a while - and try something different for sure. I figured the namesake dish would be one of the best. I wish I would have hit El Arezapo or Plantain Cafe instead.