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Press Release:
Artists, Musicians and Small Businesses Team up to Take Over Former Wonder Bread Factory
It’s been almost a year since Wonder Bread moved out of their Italian Village bakery on 4th Street near the Short North. Now, a group of innovative entrepreneurs are looking to turn the 65,000 square foot factory into a hub for the creative class in Columbus and beyond.
The project is being called “Wonderland” and it will combine artist studios, shared office space, band rehearsal and recording facilities, venue and performance space, gallery space, and a mix of start-up and established retail all under one roof. The goal is to provide a resource for artists, musicians, and small businesses to achieve individual success, as well as to establish an icon in Columbus that highlights our outstanding local creative industries to the world.
Getting things off the ground are Adam Brouillette (Couchfire Collective), Andrew Dodson (Central City Recording), David Hunegnaw (The Sandbox Columbus), Kevin Lykens (Lykens Companies) and Josh Quinn (Tigertree). The group is forming a non-profit organization to manage the property, to keep rent costs down and to provide a vehicle to seek donations and grants to encourage growth and job creation within the creative community. They will each focus on a specific area – arts, music, business, retail – and provide business counseling and information resources for tenants as well as day-to-day management of the property.
There will be an informational meeting on January 29th at Junctionview Studios (889 Williams Ave, Grandview Heights) from 6:30pm-9pm for anyone who may be interested.
More information can be found online at WonderlandColumbus.com
I think this is awesome. Things like this and North Market seem to really help neat businesses get on their feet. And all the space for art and music is fantastic.
The sign needs to stay. Exactly as is. It is an icon of Columbus.
all of this within three blocks of home…sweet. cheers to all involved and let’s get that sign lit back up.
Knew CCR was in on it through the grapevine, but didn’t want to spill the beans yesterday, just wasn’t my place. :)
Really excited for all involved – this sounds awesome!
And leave most of the sign.
Some great feedback in here. I like the idea of leaving the sign as is but having just “WONDER” light up at night. Still have the history.. but the “BREAD” is a thing of the past.
Hopefully we’ll see lots of you at the meeting. Exciting stuff.
Thanks vuch and all my friends for being such excellent secret keepers! I was pretty bad about the whole don’t tell anyone thing… Too late now!
This is literally almost too exciting.
I will come to this place and sweep floors and paint walls if needed.
Holy hallelujah. Happy day!
Same here.
There are a lot of walls.
I love this project so don’t hate me for saying this
but
I was also so enamored with a Buggyworks style Wonder Bread Factory Lofts
maybe that’s what Prescott Place behind of Havana will bring us – I think they are moving along a bit there with that spectacular sawtooth building
It’s great to read of all the talent behind Wonderland – many of which I personally know and am certain that this will further the Short North tremendously
When is the meeting/open house social?
January 29, 2010
6:30pm – 9pm at Junctionview Studios, 889 Williams Ave., Grandview Hts. OH 43212
Schedule
6:30pm mingle
7pm presentation
8pm question and answer
Thanks Mike.
It might be a good idea to video tape the presentation and post it on the web site. People might be interested who can’t come (home-bound afflicted types, the incarcerated, what-have-you).
Nothing gets people excited like video online!
So what is going to happen to Junctionview? Same as usual or move out to Wonderland?
I imagine Junctionview will be torn down sometime in the not-too-distant future to make way for Grandview Yard. I have to imagine that Wonderland is the project in which many of the artists at JV can transition to a new home.
That being said, I’m very excited about this project! Looking forward to seeing it come to life, and what all it will add to the urban core of the city! :D
This is great news! I live near here so I am excited to see something happen with that space, especially for the creative folks.
One question, does this mean that this group of entrepreneurs have bought/leased the space? Or is this an announcement of the start of an initiative to do something with the space? I’m just trying to figure out timing, next steps, etc.
Again, I am excited about this and really like the idea of a North Market type space for the area’s many artists/creative types.
Love it. Now how do we get some similar ideas going in other areas of Columbus?
Valuable creative energy!
Yes!!! Best news I’ve heard in a while. I’m sick of walking by there picking up trash along the sidewalk on 4th and seeing the overgrown weeds. I bought in this area because I was optimistic about the potential for appreciation based on the synergy of being between the failed Jeffrey and Ibiza projects. Hopefully this will take its place. Any word on when it will start and how one might help out? The sooner the better.