Columbus restaurants, developments set new opening dates, plus more business news in the area
From major real estate developments to niche restaurants, Columbus continues to see change.
Developers and entrepreneurs have been quite active this year, and new projects are popping up all over Columbus, from downtown to Midland.
Here’s a look at some of the more recent developments.
Highside Market announces first tenant
Real estate development firm The Cotton Companies announced its first tenant at Highside Market — an upcoming dining, retail and event hub in the downtown area that, according to a press release, will open in summer 2022.
It’s called Cleaver & Cork, an upscale butcher and artisan market. It’ll occupy 1,800 square feet in Highside Market, and offer a selection of charcuterie, seafood, meats and artisan goods. It’ll also offer craft beer and wine.
Cleaver & Cork is family-owned with current locations in Sharpsburg, Newnan, Marietta and Alpharetta, according to a press release.
New sports bar coming to north Columbus
A Hooters competitor is opening its first Columbus location.
Twin Peaks, a national sports bar chain, will open its Columbus location at 3116 Adams Dr., the site of the former TGI Fridays.
No opening date has been announced and a Twin Peaks spokesperson did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Downtown bar and grill aims to open soon
Agave Bar and Grill, 1110 Broadway, is expected to open “before the end of the year,” co-owner Evelyn Veloz told the Ledger-Enquirer. She owns the restaurant with her husband, Manuel Veloz, and her twin sister, Cynthia Vergara.
Each dish at Agave Grill is inspired by a different place in Mexico, and Vergara told the Ledger-Enquirer that the margaritas are a crowd favorite.
The family plans to keep the exposed brick interior walls, which run the entire length of the space. The ceiling has a sun tunnel, which will allow natural daylight into the restaurant during the daytime hours.
Mercer Medical School’s Columbus campus opens
The next generation of healthcare professionals will soon be walking the halls of Mercer University School of Medicine’s new Columbus campus.
The campus, 1633 First Ave., adjacent to City Mills hotel, opened with a private ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. In attendance were Mercer administrators, state legislators, faculty and students.
Mercer University President William D. Underwood told attendees that the campus will begin its spring semester in a few short weeks.
240 medical students will occupy the facility when it’s “fully engaged,” Underwood said, which will match the number of students at the school’s Macon and Savannah campuses.
Council approves $14M TAD funding for north Columbus development
Columbus Council approved multi-million dollar funding for a north Columbus development on Tuesday.
Council approved for the city to enter into an agreement with JMC Flatrock Partners LLC., the group behind the under-construction Midland Commons project, to provide $14.5 million in Tax Allocation District funds, during a Tuesday city council meeting.
TADs are economic development tools used to attract development. In a TAD, the amount of property taxes that go to the local government is frozen on all real estate in its boundaries. Bonds are issued to redevelop the area. As property values rise, so does the property tax revenue. Any revenue collected over the frozen amount goes toward retiring the bond debt and possible infrastructure improvements.
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
