Park Street District, Columbus, Ohio

History

Park Street's "official" history begins to take form around the late 19th century, when the area was a hotspot for industry. The history of Park Street overlaps with that of the Arena district, whose claim to fame is that it was the home of the Ohio State Penitentiary until its demolition in the 1980s. Then, with the subsequent opening of Nationwide Arena in 2000 to host Columbus's new NHL franchise, the new district began to arise. The area surrounding the Arena district was also heavily industrial, home to many manufacturing plants and factories. Park Street District itself was also largely industrial, however many of the land parcels located around Park Street were dedicated to a mix of residential and industrial uses. It was during this time that a schoolhouse was constructed, on what is now the properties of Brother's Bar and Gaswerks.

The history of the Park Street District today is largely similar to that of its surrounding neighborhoods and especially that of the Arena District and the Short North. As those neighborhoods grew around the Park Street District, the area evolved into a hub for nightlife and cuisine for its patrons. The district, as it is known today, did not form until as recently as five or six years ago. Many of the bars are relatively new, including the Park Street Complex, which was renovated and reopened in 2010.

Geography

The 17-acre Park Street District is located just north of the Arena District and is bound to the south by Vine Street, the North by Interstate 670 the east by North High Street and to the West by Neil Avenue . The main thoroughfare in the district is Park Street, which runs north to south through the district's center. The district is noticeably lacking in green space except for a few plant enclosures on its sidewalks, and its close proximity to Goodale Park.

Park Street District is within easy walking distance of many of Columbus' attractions and neighborhoods, listed below:

"Arena District"

"Short North"

"Victorian Village"

"Greater Columbus Convention Center"

"University District"

North Market

Columbus's North Market was the second public market of its kind in the city when constructed in 1876 in the location of the old city cemetery. Over the years, the market had troubles with several fires, consolidations, and the end of World War II. After another fire in 1948, the market was housed in a military Quonset hut. Decades later, city leadership created the North Market Development Authority, which oversaw the revitalization of North Market to return it to its former status as a cultural and community hub for Columbus. In 1995, North Market reopened in a new location, a former machinery warehouse on Spruce Street. Today, it houses over thirty unique merchants specializing in a range of wares. Examples are Polish sausages and Belgian waffles.

Park Street Complex

The Park Street Complex is the largest and most prominent structure in the district. It comprises nine separately managed bars and three restaurants that all fall under the umbrella name of “Park Street”. The complex was created in 2010, when co-owners Mike Gallicchio, Chris Corso, and Brian Swanson merged these bars into one building under a single roof. These include: Park Street Saloon, The Social Room, Park Street Patio, and Park Street Tavern.

Park Street Cantina

Park Street Cantina is a Mexican-themed bar. Cantina contains an outdoor patio, a dance floor, and four full bars. Like most of the bars on Park Street, the majority of Cantina's clientele comes from students in Central Ohio.

Brother's Bar

Brother's Bar is a midwest regional chain that operates in 17 sports-themed locations in 10 states .

Bar Louie

Bar Louie is a chain bar whose first location opened in Chicago in 1990. Its Columbus location was opened in 2006. Bar Louie is a high end bar, complete with an extensive wine and beer menu.

Gaswerks

Gaswerks is a sports bar that is mainly oriented toward the young professional clientele.

Callahan's

Callahan's is a multi-level Irish/ European-themed nightclub that contains four bars and a rooftop patio.

BBR

BBR (Beer, Burgers, Rock) is one of the newer restaurants in the district, having only been open since 2011. It replaced the old Tyfoon restaurant. A mashup of sports bar/ nightclub/ rock club.

Park Street Festival

Park Street Festival is an annual two-day event that is a combination of concerts, food trucks and other exhibitions. It takes place in the beginning of the summer. The festival has seen growing attendance since its launch in 2006.

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral was modeled in Byzantine style displayed by the prominent dome and tall bell-tower. The parish was founded in the early 1900s when a small group of Greek families in the Central Ohio area banded together, pooled their money, and built a church. By the end of the century, the Parish had become too big for its church. The current cathedral was designed and constructed in 1990. It has won several City Beautiful Awards for design. The old church is still part of the cathedral complex. It is occasionally used for smaller services.

Columbus Children's Theater

Howard Bloom and his wife, noticing a deficiency in fine arts education in the Columbus area, founded the Columbus Junior Theater of the Arts in 1963. Classes were first taught on Broad Street, then at the Trinity Episcopal Church. In 1966, a new Main Street building was bought. A year later, the Columbus Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council helped to fund a full-time staff for the theater. Over time, the theater expanded to include summer classes, week-long camps, and a touring troupe. The theater worked to expand into Columbus Schools as well. In 1983, a writing competition was launched among Columbus Schools to submit screenplays, scripts, and monologues. In 1985, the theater moved into 504 N. Park Street. In 1999, due to increased profits and attendance, a new theatre at 512 Park Street was purchased to meet the growing demands of the successful theater. The Columbus Children's Theater is currently located at 512 Park Street, where it sees close to a million dollars of annual revenue. Josh Radnor, star of How I Met Your Mother, is a notable alumni of the Columbus Children's Theater.

Transportation/ Access

The Park Street district has multiple access points for various modes of transportation. By car, the district has access to the nearby Vine Street exit off of I-670 as well as an entrance ramp near Goodale Park for I-670 west. The two major COTA bus lines that travel through the district are the 18 which runs through the district and the 2 routes that run on nearby High St. The district is also near two COGO bike stations. One of the bike stations is on Kilbourne Street while the other is along Spruce.