Hotels, restaurants, more: What’s open, closed and coming to downtown Columbus
Downtown Columbus is going through a major transition.
On every block, local business owners, contractors and real estate investors are renovating dilapidated buildings and sprucing up historical facades.
Here’s a list of what’s recently opened and what you can expect to see soon:
Axe-throwing bar moves to new location
Columbus’ first axe-throwing location has moved to another space in downtown.
Moving to 1023 Broadway, Columbus Axe is just down the road from its previous location. It now includes an in-house bar.
Columbus Axe first opened May 21 after several weeks of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current hours are 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 3-11 p.m. Fridays; noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-6 p.m. Sundays.
New York-style franks in uptown Columbus
Frank’s Alley, which describes itself as a “New York street food joint,” is opening soon in downtown Columbus. It will serve hot dogs, pretzels, beer and more, according to its Instagram page.
It will be at 1246 Broadway, near Ayden Restaurant and Lounge and across the street from Nonic Beer Bar & Kitchen.
The eatery does not yet have an opening date set, according to owner Ross Horner, former president and CEO of Uptown Columbus who resigned in early 2020.
Read more about Frank’s Alley here.
One boutique hotel opens, another soon to follow
Hotel Indigo at 21 14th St. officially opened in February. It’s located just south of the TSYS parking garage, along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk between 13th and 14th Streets.
There are 107 guest rooms, according to a press kit, including: 5 king studio suites, 31 premium rooms and 71 standard rooms.
The hotel also has a 24-hour fitness center, heated swimming pool and 2,500 square feet of conference and meeting space. It also features a rooftop bar overlooking the Chattahoochee River and a restaurant, Denim & Oak Riverfront Restaurant.
The $30 million, seven-story hotel was originally set to open before the end of 2020, the Ledger-Enquirer previously reported. Construction on the hotel began in October 2019.
Hotel Indigo’s opening works in tandem with those other projects, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce CEO Jerald Mitchell said, because of the space it provides.
“We’re really excited about this — this is just another tool in our arsenal when it comes to being able to attract and recruit new businesses, new jobs and new private investment to the area,” Mitchell told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Interested individuals can book room reservations by calling 877-846-3446 or by visiting the hotel’s website.
Other luxury hotels are also coming to the downtown area.
The AC Hotel by Marriott, a six-story, $20 million property, will officially open in Columbus on April 8, and a $10 million effort is well underway to revitalize historic City Mills
Downtown Irish pub remains closed
Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub remains closed. The interior of the location is under construction.
The Ledger-Enquirer has reached out to the pub for comment on a potential reopening date and the status of the interior construction, but has not yet received a response.
Former Salt Life offices still vacant
The space originally occupied by beach retailer Salt Life’s corporate offices remains vacant.
The space at 24 12th St. is listed under realtor Ernie Smallman of Coldwell Banker Commercial. It’s a four-story space, each story comprising of 4,125 square feet. Before Salt Life, it was occupied by Synovus.
Fashion store moves locations
A downtown men’s apparel store has moved locations.
Looking Good, originally located on Broadway, has moved to 2602 Manchester Expressway.
The store operates 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, according to its Google listing.
Posh Peach moves to temporary, alternate location
The Posh Peach has moved to a temporary location.
The women’s clothing store is currently operating at 1234 Broadway (Pop Uptown) while the 1105 Broadway location is being renovated. It’s open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Highside Market plans revealed
Columbus-based real estate and investment firm The Cotton Companies has revealed details for Highside Market, an upcoming dining, retail and event hub in the downtown area.
Dubbed a “love letter to Columbus,” the project sits at the crossroads of 13th Street and Second Avenue. The historic structures on the site will be readapted, embracing the original architecture, and connected by a new building and an outdoor park for entertainment and community events.
Read more here.
$10 million apartment complex near downtown Columbus is almost complete
One portion of developer Ken Henson’s $10 million apartment complex encompassing nearly an entire uptown city block is nearing completion.
The first building at Henson’s 1516 Uptown, a 74-unit apartment complex between 15th and 16th Streets, is expected to be completed by July, Henson told the Ledger-Enquirer. Nine units will be ready by then, and the rest by this fall, he said.
The apartments will feature a brick exterior, and the windows will have a “historic” look about them, Henson said.
Those interested in leasing a unit at 1516 Uptown can call 706-580-5126 or email secondavenue@ram-mgt.com.
Read more about 1516 Uptown, and Henson’s personal connection with the development, here.
Other notable news
Pay stations are not coming to downtown Columbus — any time soon, at least.
The decision was made after strong opposition at an early March public meeting. Discussions regarding paid parking downtown will continue, but they will be paused while local businesses continue to recover from financial difficulties brought on by COVID-19. The city had drafted a plan to install mid-block pay stations downtown by January 2022.
The agreement to pause the plan came after a strong objection to the proposed measures — none of which are a “done deal,” according to City Manager Isaiah Hugley.
This story was originally published April 6, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
