Short North bar Bodega has new ownership as of last week, though fans of the establishment should expect few changes to be made. Former co-owner Collin Castore informed us last night that he and his business partner Sang Lankhani have sold the bar to Brian Swanson last week.
“I will continue to help with orders for a little while and all the staff, the name and the concept will remain the same,” said Castore.
He says that the sale will allow him to focus on his other business ventures, which include an upcoming expansion of brewing operations at Seventh Son in Italian Village.
“Similarly, Sang is looking forward to some more time to focus on catering at The Table,” he added. “It was a good thing for all of us.”
Bodega underwent a major renovation last year that reinvented the restaurant’s menu and streamlined the service process to be more efficient during busy nights. Swanson says that he wants to keep the momentum going.
“I’m going to make a few menu changes, and some small decor changes, but that’s about it,” he explained. “The bar won’t need to be closed at all for the small updates.”
Swanson is a former co-owner of the CGS Group, which previously operated multiple bars and nightclubs on Park Street. After the sale of the Park Street Complex to Jimmy Woodland in 2013, the owners went separate ways. The purchase of Bodega marks the first solo project for Swanson.
For more information, visit www.columbusbodega.com.
Edit: 1/26 11:25am – Updated article to include additional information from Brian Swanson.