The doctor is in and he’s ordered a trip to North Market in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio, to cure all of our food and beverage needs.
Nick Dekker, a food blogger, author and tour guide (aka Dr. Breakfast), still makes frequent house calls to North Market, an F&B mecca that captures the entrepreneurial spirit of Columbus.
While the city may be the state’s capital, home to Ohio State University and site of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) annual meeting this month, the North Market is at the epicenter of how this destination is raising its profile as a meeting and event destination.
“North Market is really emblematic of how Columbus has changed,” Dekker told me during a visit to the city. “There is so much happening here all the time and the growth and popularity of North Market reflects the spirit in Columbus. Here you’ll [find] home-grown products and world flavors. It would pretty hard to come in here and not find something for everyone, and that’s exactly what Columbus is all about right now.”
“North Market is really emblematic of how Columbus has changed,” Dekker told me during a visit to the city. “There is so much happening here all the time and the growth and popularity of North Market reflects the spirit in Columbus. Here you’ll [find] home-grown products and world flavors. It would pretty hard to come in here and not find something for everyone, and that’s exactly what Columbus is all about right now.”
At this exact moment in our conversation, we’re about to dive into some delightful snacks for lunch, as Dr. Breakfast does more than breakfast. We’re sitting on the second level of North Market, looking over the vast array of stands serving food, beverages and crafts.
North Market was opened in 1876 as one of four public markets and is the only one remaining, having survived a fire in 1948, and a Quonset hut location until moving into its current building nearly 25 years ago.
Designed as an incubator space—for example, it’s the birthplace of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams—there are now about 35 vendors split evenly among prepared food, bakeries and confectioners and fresh food providers such as butchers and produce, all locally and independently owned.
Our culinary adventure began with waffles at Ohio-based Taste of Belgium. OK, “waffles” is not exactly accurate. Waffles dripping with strawberries and cream. I was cured, thank you Dr. Dekker.
But there was more. Himalayan dumplings from Momo Ghar, which has been featured in Food & Wine magazine and Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. Crammed with chicken, cilantro and other highly aromatic spices, these dumplings were exquisite.
Now for dessert as ordered by the doctor. A stop by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, considered among the best by AFAR travel magazine and Food & Wine, was a must. All I had to do was get a taste of strawberry and I was hooked.
A couple of other popular options at North Market include options for coffee lovers, such as Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, part of the Columbus Coffee Trail.
The building can accommodate groups of up to 2,500, and there are options to utilize about 15,000 square feet of outdoor space in the Farmer’s Market Pavilion.
If one were to judge Columbus just on food, the destination is a must-see, but for meeting professionals, Columbus is also booming.
The neighborhoods surrounding downtown are bustling with energy, driven by renovations, creative use of space and unique and diverse food options. German Village, Italian Village, the Brewery District and Short North Arts District are just a few examples.
The Greater Columbus Convention Center recently completed a US$140 million renovation and expansion highlighted by 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and the addition of nine new meetings rooms to increase the total number of meeting rooms to 75. The convention center is one of first in the U.S. with an indoor hydroponic vertical farm, which yields about 5,000 pounds of produce per year.
The Greater Columbus Convention Center recently completed a US$140 million renovation and expansion highlighted by 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and the addition of nine new meetings rooms to increase the total number of meeting rooms to 75. The convention center is one of first in the U.S. with an indoor hydroponic vertical farm, which yields about 5,000 pounds of produce per year.
Source: columbusconventions.com
Another must-see at the convention center is the “ultimate selfie machine.” Introduced about two years ago, “As We Are” is a 14-foot metal sculpture covered with 850,000 LED lights. A built-in photo booth featuring 32 digital cameras captures images of a subject’s head, and in about three minutes the image is superimposed on the blank canvas of the sculpture. It’s provided a fascinating history of the diversity of visitors to the convention center.
The city is adding hotel space including the opening this month of the 168-room Canopy by Hilton, featuring 2,000 square feet of meeting space, including a rooftop bar and outdoor patio, across from the convention center.
A 468-room expansion of the Hilton Columbus Downtown, a headquarters hotel of the convention center, will bring the total number of rooms on the property to 1,000 and total meeting space to 75,000 square feet. The new tower is expected to open in 2022.
Properties opening later this year include Moxy Columbus Short North, a boutique hotel by Marriott, and the Graduate Hotel, which will include 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
While you’re here…
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is the only place where the stories of veterans, their families and the fallen across all branches of service and all eras of conflict are told together. At more than 50,000 square feet, the facility offers space for events, opportunities for reflection and exhibition galleries.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens features the world’s largest collection of Chihuly in a botanical garden. The artwork has been on display since 2003, but has been completely reimagined to include unique and never-before-seen installations reflective of Chihuly’s new work.
Getting around can be fun with a couple of options. Self-driving shuttles along the Scioto Mile offer passenger service to COSI (the science museum and research center), National Veterans Memorial and Museum, the Smart Columbus Experience Center and Bicentennial Park, or try on-demand scooters and CoGo bike share.
