Each year, we count down the most well read articles on Columbus Underground. The results aren’t an indicator of the most important stories (you can find those over here), but instead a pure look at raw pageviews to see which articles got the most wide spread attention due to their buzzworthy, viral and shareable nature.
20. Fast Forward: East Franklinton & The Scioto Peninsula
If you add up all of the planned development in a particular area and take a look at what it collectively means just a few years down the road, that’s what we call a “Fast Forward” article. In May, we looked at what the future holds for East Franklinton & The Scioto Peninsula, and the transformation will be pretty radical over the course of the next decade.
19. Major Redevelopment Planned for University City Center on Olentangy River Road
In June, a large-scale redevelopment plan was unveiled for a sleepy grocery strip mall located not far from The Ohio State University. The formerly Kroger-anchored (it closed in October) University City Center plaza is expected to see a major demolition and reconstruction that would include six story buildings with apartments, a parking garage and a new grocery anchor tenant. Work is expected to begin in Spring 2018.
18. Dirty Frank’s Closing Westgate Location
RIP DFW. The expansion location of this popular local hot dog joint shuttered in November following some building maintenance issues that were too cost prohibitive to repair. The closure leaves the “restaurant desert” neighborhood of Westgate with one less option, but fans can still get their fix Downtown in the original location.
17. Simply Rolled Ice Cream Finds Permanent Home in The Short North
After operating as a pop-up ice cream shop inside the Oats & Barley Market, this Thai-style rolled-up ice cream shop became a permanent fixture at 970 N. High St. The news resonated with locals in a very prominent way, as lines could often be seen stretching out onto the sidewalk during warm summer days this year.
16. Chick-Fil-A Opening High Street Location Near OSU
Typically, if you’re craving Chick-Fil-A, you’ve got to seek it out inside a mall food court or suburban strip small location. That’s changing in 2018 when High Street gains a Chick-Fil-A location in the University District inside the new Wellington building near 16th and High. And if that’s not enough for you, a second centralized location is also on the way to Grandview Yard.