Upper Arlington’s rapidly growing Lane Avenue area is set to be the location of a new Northstar Café in the near future. Northstar owners Kevin, Katie, and Darren Malhame have submitted plans to open at 1515 West Lane Avenue in a new two-story 13,432 square-foot building developed by The Pizzuti Companies, which will include a restaurant and patio on the lower floor, and corporate offices on the top. The apartment and office buildings that currently occupy the lot would be demolished.
“This is a great location, very close to the new Whole Foods and other nearby activity,” said Joel Pizzuti, President of The Pizzuti Companies. “We’re still working through pre-development process, and getting our zoing approval on Monday was clearing a very major hurdle. So we’re very excited, but still working through all of the details.”
Pizzuti says that his personal friendship with the Malhames predates their new business relationship, and although this new two-story project is much smaller in scale than prominent buildings like The Joseph or Miranova, it’s still an important one.
“We like to do projects that are important to us and that interest us,” he explained. “We think that we can have a really positive impact on Lane Avenue and on the neighborhood. Plus, projects like this are just incredibly fun.”
Since opening in the Short North in 2004, Northstar Café has expanded to three locations, including a fourth slated to open in 2015 in Westerville. The Malhames are additionally working on a new concept where Betty’s Fine Food and Spirits once was in the Short North. If timelines remain on schedule, the Lane Avenue restaurant would begin construction in second quarter 2015.
For more information, visit www.pizzuti.com and www.thenorthstarcafe.com.
Walker Evans also contributed to this article.
Renderings via GRA+D Architects.