Work starts on agricultural, food hall buildings at state fairgrounds

COLUMBUS — After almost five years of planning, the state began construction Monday on its vision for the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds by breaking ground on a new food hall and agricultural educational building.

“There is so much to enjoy at the Ohio State Fair, and the enhancements to these spectacular fairgrounds will make the experience even better,” Gov. Mike Dewine said in a news release.

“These projects will preserve the historic beauty and character of the fairgrounds, while also adding modern improvements that showcase everything great about our state.”

The new Ohio Showcase Building will house a food hall and exhibit space to tell the story of Ohio’s people, land, communities and innovation, according to the governor’s office. The hall will house six restaurants/vendors that will offer dishes from throughout Ohio, with indoor and outdoor dining space. The building is slated for completion in 2026.

The new agriculture building will house the Taste of Ohio Café, with meals served by Ohio’s agricultural commodity groups. The building will also house the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s Land & Living Exhibit and other agricultural exhibits.

“The exhibit hall will feature more than 100,000 square feet of space for a variety of events,” Dewine’s office said in a news release.

The new buildings join other improvements recommended by the Expo 2050 Task Force created by Dewine in 2019, including:

An entry gate and permanent ticket booths from the main north parking lots between the fairgrounds and Historic Crew Stadium.

Gathering space at a new “town square” at the center of the fairgrounds with more food, rest areas and children’s activities.

Underground infrastructure improvements including internet connectivity, storm and sewer systems and electrical access.

Landscape improvements including a new pathway through the fairgrounds.

“Our partners and stakeholders have a deep and rich connection with the fairgrounds,” Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Executive Director Adam Heffron said in a news release.

The state again left out any mention of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther’s proposed city sports park at the Historic Crew Stadium. Announced by Ginther and other city officials as a done deal in December 2018, the city sports park was billed as a key community benefit to building a new Crew soccer stadium downtown.

But long after the new Lower.com Field was under construction in the Arena District, the city’s plans to develop the fairgrounds land ran into challenges, in part because the board that controls the fairgrounds never agreed to the plan.