Urban Meyer to partner in second upscale restaurant
Ohio hospitality company Corso Ventures and former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer are joining forces again for another upscale sports bar and restaurant.
The Urban Chop House will be one of three bars and restaurants in the Luxe 23 apartment complex rising on the northwest corner of N. High Street and W. 3rd Avenue in the Short North.
The eatery will serve steaks, seafood, sushi and craft cocktails, said Corso Director of Marketing Justin Kintz.
“We don't want it to be too stuffy,” he said. “We want to make it a fun environment for fans of OSU, or fans of Urban Meyer, but also an upscale environment.”
Corso operates restaurants and bars with expansive interiors and a warehouse-like aesthetic. Pint House and Standard Hall in the Short North, for example, have walls of exposed brick and exposed HVAC vents, complemented with metal barstools and tables.
The company's new venture marks its second collaboration with Meyer, who won a national championship with Ohio State before stepping away from his duties as head coach in 2018. Corso also operates Urban Meyer's Pint House, which opened last fall in Dublin's Bridge Park development.
The upcoming chophouse will open in the middle of a difficult time for restaurants, which continue to struggle to draw customers during the pandemic.
Corso intends to open the restaurant early next year, but doesn't have a firm date yet, Kintz said.
“There's not really a clear end (to the pandemic) in sight, so it makes more sense for us to sharpen our tools and get all of our ducks in a row before we open up the doors,” he said.
Corso is developing Luxe 23 with the veteran Columbus apartment developer Preferred Living. Construction on the building began a year and a half ago, and the Urban Chop House was always intended to be a part of it, Kintz said. pcooley@dispatch.com @Patrickacooley