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The Columbus Food League (previously known as The Betty’s Family of Restaurants) is expanding once again with the announcement of The Grass Skirt, slated to open Spring 2012 at 105 North Grant Street in Downtown Columbus. The Grass Skirt will be open for lunch, dinner and late night service.
This new restaurant and bar will be owned by a five-person partnership that includes Carmen Owens (Surly Girl Co-Owner/GM), Amy Brennick (Columbus Food League COO), Tim Lessner (Tip Top Kitchen Co-owner/GM) , Harold LaRue (Jury Room) and Elizabeth Lessner (Columbus Food League).
“The partners all have a long-time love of tiki bars and tiki culture,” said Elizabeth Lessner, co-founder of The Columbus Food League. “Whenever we visit other cities, we always look for tiki bars to visit. Harold has several old menus and other pieces of decor from the original Kahiki here in Columbus.”
The Grass Skirt will be housed in the former MadLab Theatre space, which relocated to North Third Street a year and a half ago. The planned renovation of the space includes a dynamic new interior featuring waterfalls and smoking volcanoes as well as a major exterior makeover.
“Because we are taking over an abandoned theatre space, we had an opportunity to do something truly unique,” Lessner said. “All of our other locations are housed in buildings that are 100 years old and that has always confined our vision, but this time the sky is truly the limit, so we’re having fun with it.”
The Grass Skirt will be located next door to the new Hills Market grocery store, which was announced two weeks ago, and will be collaborating with them on efforts to maintain green and sustainable businesses on their block with the help of Eartha Limited.
More information will be made available over the coming months leading up to the Spring 2012 opening.
yay! this was one of my favorite spaces in cbus, what an awesome use of it! : )
Congrats to the Columbus Food League. Another +1 for Downtown Columbus. Very exciting.
Looking forward to trying it out.
Just like the new Hills Market, this is half-way between home and work for us. Which is dangerously awesome. ;)
We’re quickly approaching a dozen new eateries Downtown in just the last 6-12 months.
Great news. Looks like they may have an opportunity for a HUGE patio to the front or side. Any plans for a beach volleyball court? ;)
Wow! Two awesome food options in walking distance. I may need to look into a gym membership now to account for my soon to be expanding waistline.
Great news! I cannot wait for the custom tiki mugs that should come out of this.
I hope it fills the Kahiki-shaped hole in my heart!
Fantastic news. What a unique concept for Columbus. Congratulations Liz and team! Can’t wait to go tiki!
Way to go, Columbus Food League!
OH! This is so in my wheelhouse! What did I have to go and move 2000 miles away for :(
YARBNALLS!!!!! (It’s a curseword, sorta’. Try it out, it’s fun to say)
Still, just another great reason to come back and visit the Bus. Good luck to Liz and Team
I can taste the rum already! Hopefully the Tiki Car can make it down for the opening http://www.flickr.com/photos/thatcar/5849652972/
105 is not a building that is “over a hundred years old”, that’s true.
It’s most recent incarnation was built in 1930, so over 80 years old.
I have many happy memories of this building. I hope I am able to make some more in the future.
Should be a slam dunk win, great concept, great location, hugely underserved market for that kind of service. What welcome news!
Liz & the CFL crew really have great fantastic business sense.
5 owners? Seriously? What is this, Facebook?
MadLab is very excited for this news. 105 will always be our first home and its very exciting to hear it will be a great place for people to hang out again. You shall see us there often I am sure.
Yay!
Wow! I am beyond excited. Thanks for always thinking of new ideas and keeping Columbus a great place to live.
It’s becoming a Lessner monopoly for downtown eateries and bars. Anyone else willing to cash in on this area? 1-2 businesses is one thing but is this now number six? Does any other business entity have as many? Just curious. I don’t support monopolies, I support sole business owners.