The Jordan Bevy is an up & coming Columbus shopping hub. Meet the women behind the moment
Some would say one of the best things about Columbus is that there is always something new to explore and the constant reinvention of the collective identity makes little nooks like the Jordan Bevy possible.
Not really a “shopping center” and far more than a “strip mall” this neighborhood corner has coalesced into something incredibly unique.
The Jordan Bevy is located on the corner of Howard Ave. and 33rd Street, right across from Jordan High School and it contains what many will say is the coolest, most eclectic set of businesses Columbus has to offer.
Owned and operated by women in their very own cabal of sisterhood, The Jordan Bevy is a place to gather, feel seen and heard, and find a little beauty in the world. The corner contains four businesses and each has its very own brand of charm and charisma.
Light & Co. Salon
Proprietor and head feminist, Barbara Braswell Holladay, had a vision for Light & Co. salon when she started it in the midst of a pandemic, pregnant with her daughter, Chuck. This vision, quickly became a reality and included the concept of warm fellowship in a fully inclusive salon where everyone can feel safe taking care of themselves.
Braswell Holladay, along with the other stylists, Shelby Amos, Shannon Hagan and Sara Hodge, has cultivated a brand considered both cheeky and wildly clever. You can always find a disco ball hanging from the ceiling, a classic-cult film playing on the TV (think A Star Is Born or Jawbreaker) and a playlist featuring the hottest female pop singer of the moment. Braswell Holladay’s mother’s senior portrait presides proudly over the salon, signaling that you’re at home here.
Light & Co. is the un-salon salon. The stylists are warm and welcoming, and there’s not a chance a client will feel intimidated by their coolness; no mean girls allowed. The vibe is familiar, but there is also enough visual texture that feels different every time you walk in there.
They are a full-service salon and there is always a fun crowd around, whether they’re sitting under the vintage hood dryer, relaxing under the twinkle lights at the wash bowl, or waiting and chatting on the reclaimed church pew. You can make an appointment for any of those things using the Light & Co. appointment link.
King Gallery
Cora King, local artist, teacher and community activist is the owner of King Gallery on the Howard Ave. side of the Jordan Bevy. Her gallery has hosted some of the most significant artists in the Columbus area and she has thrown her support behind events that changed the landscape of the local art scene.
Soft and ethereal, the gallery is an open, airy space that is a funky mix of art, collectibles, antiques, vintage finds and loving support for all creative endeavors.
King is a prolific artist who likes to experiment with light and shape, but she is also a thoughtful teacher who helps her students look at their subjects from a different perspective. She teaches students from preschool to the nursing home, and she gets nothing but rave reviews.
Through her own study of painting, she has learned ways to work, and live for that matter, that encourage presence. She fosters patience, mindfulness, communication and observation in her students, and her influence is always clear.
You can browse the gallery in person or book a class and see what is upcoming for the gallery on her website, Cora King Art.
Plant Magic Market
There are few places like Plant Magic Market in Columbus. It offers an assortment of plant magic, crystals, herbs, candles, books, jewelry and frankly items that make it easier to be a human.
Owned and run by Olivia Hight-Montgomery, it’s fitting that Plant Magic Market would be on the actual corner of the Jordan Bevy since it is both the intersection and convergence of the group. Hight-Montgomery describes herself as “crystal enthusiast and lover of all things metaphysical, esoteric, mystical and witchy,” and is available to answer your questions on how to maximize your finds.
Hight-Montgomery also brought her shop to the Jordan Bevy in 2020, and from there it has been a place of attraction and growth. Whether you need a little black salt for the full moon, hibiscus tea for your blood pressure or Zodiac lip balm, Plant Magic Market is a home base for your spiritual well-being.
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Because the shop has been such a touchstone for people looking to gather, she naturally parlayed her apothecary into a Tea Room that sits on the Howard Avenue side. Here, she hosts bi-monthly afternoon teas, one of the only offered in Columbus.
If you can’t visit the shop in person, she welcomes you to shop online at her website, Plant Magic Market, and you can make reservations for tea here as well.
Little Bee Creations
Melissa Posey started her tattoo business, Little Bee Creations, as a natural progression from her henna art. Along with her apprentice, Izzy Wagner, Posey wants to build her customers’ confidence through the art of tattoo.
You can find Posey, representing Little Bee, at festivals and art shows all around town, and she is among only a handful of henna artists in Columbus. Her studio is cozy and welcoming, and you can find her most days, folded onto the sofa, sketching new designs.
She came to the Jordan Bevy a little bit later than some of its other members, in 2022, but in the short time Little Bee has been around the shop has been nominated (and won the silver prize) for a People’s Choice award for Best Tattoo Shop.
To connect with Posey, you can visit her website at Little Bee Creations for tattoos, henna and permanent makeup just visit the website at Little Bee Columbus.
This story was originally published August 2, 2024 at 3:50 PM.
