Openings & Announcements
Last Thursday, Pelino’s Pasta opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant at 245 King Ave., formerly Yellow Brick Pizza. At the Dennison Place restaurant, husband-and-wife co-owners Vinny and Christina Pelino serve traditional house-made pastas such as bucatini, rigatoni, tagliatelle and more.
The Gateway location of Coffee Connections reopened last week at 1572 N. High St. The Campus-area coffee shop had been closed since last December because of the pandemic. Coffee Connections has two other shops in Hilliard and one in Plain City.
The Central Ohio taco chain Local Cantina continues to grow. Its newest location opened late last month at 20 W. Waterloo St. in Canal Winchester. The casual chain now has 10 restaurants around Columbus and one in Dayton.
Baker Autumn LeAnn’s small batch bakery, Autumn’s Sweet Shoppe, opened inside the lobby of 700 Bryden Road last week, selling coffee, cookies and pastries. The new Olde Towne East spot is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
According to signage at Carriage Place Shopping Center, a new business called Crepe Stop is coming to 2714 Bethel Road. In addition to crepes, the new shop promises smoothies, bubble tea and ice cream.
The Big Bang piano bar is officially leaving the Arena District and relocating to the Campus area. According to the bar’s social media accounts, The Big Bang will fill the space vacated by Chumley’s at 1516 N. High St. It is expected to open in September.
Closings
Market District Express Kitchen & Bar will close inside Bexley’s Giant Eagle Market District Express, according to reporting by Columbus Business First. The 4,000-square-foot, full-scale restaurant first opened in 2016.
Events
Taste of Bexley returns for a 13th year this fall, this time with an alfresco event. The strolling food event, featuring 25 Central Ohio food vendors, will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in Jeffrey Mansion’s Clifton Meadow (2100 Clifton Ave.). Live entertainment and libations are also part of the program. Advance tickets are available for $25 at bexleyareachamber.org.
