The Alive wrote
Behind the numbers
By Bryan Bullock
August 28, 2008
The number 23 stirs various associations – like Jordan in his heyday or Jim Carrey at his lowest – but the Short North’s Bar 23 is simply honoring Columbus’ backbone, U.S. Rt. 23. The bar’s short, clean name also reflects the mod, minimal ambiance that awaits patrons.
Inside the open-space bar, shot glass-sized light fixtures dangle above a long granite bar top. Cone-shaped stools hug tall, glossy tables. Creamy, earth-toned walls are spotted with flat-panel TVs.
“I definitely want to be known as a great place to watch sports, but we don’t want to be a sports bar,” said co-owner John Racanelli.
He and his two partners, former owners of Metro Bar and Grill, opened Bar 23 last spring. The bar’s location on The Cap draws a cross-section of foot traffic – Blue Jackets spectators, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse diners and convention center tourists – and the owners hope to adapt to what the community wants and become a long-term favorite.