Bar, event venue, restaurant planned Downtown
Site is close to Short North, Arena District
A New York company plans to open a multi-purpose bar, restaurant, event and entertainment center called The Kee in a building on the north end of Downtown.
The company, called Center Square, has leased the 33,000-square-foot building at 225 Neilston St.
“We’ll be programming our own events at the venue, like concerts and comedy shows,” Adam Nestler, cofounder of Center Square, said in a news release.
“We’ll host fitness classes, art exhibits and marketplaces, like farmer’s markets. We’ll rent space and offer an on-site catering option for private parties, weddings and corporate events. We’ll also offer an array of recreational activities like duckpin bowling, giant Jenga, sports simulators, pool, ping pong and more – alongside delicious food and drink.”
Nestler said Center Square chose the site because of its historic character and proximity to the Short North and Arena District.
“We love the authentic, artistic vibe of the neighborhood, and we’re excited about all the development that’s coming,” said Nestler, who said he hopes to open The Kee in July.
Center Square is leasing the building from Hackman Capital Partners, a Los Angeles firm with offices in Columbus, where the Hackman family is from.
In addition to large industrial buildings around Greater Columbus, Hackman owns 11 office buildings and six parking lots in the Downtown warehouse district along Neilston, East 5th and East Naghten streets. Hackman presented plans for the building’s renovation – prepared by the Columbus firm Archall Architects – to the Downtown Commission in August.
“We’re thrilled to welcome The Kee to the Columbus warehouse district,” Philip Hackman, in the company’s Co
lumbus office, said in the news release.
“The innovative concept is a testament to our vision of the neighborhood as a vital urban hub attracting creative-thinking businesses of all kinds. The Kee will definitely create buzz and draw people from all over the city for the all-in-one experience it will offer.”
The space was most recently leased by the Ohio Department of Health's Vital Statistics office.
Clayton Davis, the managing director of JLL, who handled the leasing with associate Alex Ashworth, said the lease is an important step in revitalizing the area.
“There's nothing like The Kee in the Columbus area, and we're pleased to help bring this modernday community space to the warehouse district,” Davis said. “We're also looking forward to the upcoming development of this historic neighborhood. With retail numbers on the rise, we see this new space playing a significant role in the area's growth.” jweiker@dispatch.com @Jimweiker