Restaurant Review: The Osteria at Camelot Cellars

Consistently solid if rarely memorable Italian food is served alongside a dizzying number of house-made wines

Camelot Cellars, a business that calls itself an “urban boutique winery,” isn’t likely to be accused of standing pat.

Producing — and teaching patrons how to produce — wines from grapes often grown far from Ohio, Camelot was founded in the Short North in 2005. Since then, the operation has changed owners a few times and, about three years ago, moved to a bigger and better location in Olde Towne East. In its newer spot, Camelot has offered food cooked by at least four head chefs. READ MORE

Columbus Alive May 15, 2019

Arts preview: Tiffani Smith debuts ‘My Hood. My Heart. My Home.’ collection

The local artist is creating jewelry from pieces of gentrified neighborhoods

Leatherworker and jewelry maker Tiffani Smith spent the day before her birthday in rubble.

The longstanding building at North Garfield and East Long in the King-Lincoln District was demolished on May 8, shocking much of the community. Murals of black icons like Mahalia Jackson and Nancy Wilson, painted by the late black artist Jeff Abraxas, were knocked down in the process. READ MORE

Columbus Alive May 15, 2019

The New York Times March 26, 2019

Historic building in Olde Towne East being converted to coworking space

A three-story building at the southeast corner of East Main Street and Wilson Avenue has always been a merchant stand for Olde Towne East but now it’s coming back as a different kind of gathering place. READ MORE

Columbus Business First March 21, 2019

Restaurants: Hangover Easy settles into Olde Towne East

Breakfast and lunch spot takes over former Black Creek Bistro space

However trite it might sound, it’s a phrase that Scott McCrary lives by: Keep it simple.

At the new Hangover Easy in Olde Towne East, the menu is uncomplicated by modern trends and designer ingredients.

“Eggs are what we do,” McCrary said. “You can get them almost any way you want.”

That includes pork belly and eggs over medium, on a biscuit with a ladle of hollandaise sauce. READ MORE

Columbus Dispatch March 18, 2019

Bar Review: The Oracle in Olde Towne East

The new Oak Street bar from the owners of Yellow Brick Pizza blends past, present and future.

Stepping inside The Oracle feels a bit like stepping back in time. The corner bar inhabits an

1880s-era brick building that’s representative of Olde Towne East architecture. Behind the bar, a record player scratches out ambient music; in another corner, a tarot card reader practices her craft; eye-catching pencil and paint portraits hang on the dark, beadboard walls. READ MORE

Columbus Monthly November 27, 2018

Olde Towne East neighbors come together for beautification project, block party

A small army of volunteers participated in beautification projects in Olde Towne East Friday, with the hope of turning temporary updates into lasting improvements. READ MORE

The Columbus Dispatch October 12, 2018

Apartments planned at Columbus Food Hub site in Olde Towne East

A new mixed-use development is planned for a fast-changing part of Old Towne East.

A three-story project, The Gemma, will be developed on the southeast corner of Oak Street and South Ohio Avenue, partly new construction and partly the adaptive re-use of the buildings there now. READ MORE

Columbus Business First April 5, 2018

Long-Stalled Project in Olde Towne East Now Under Construction

Preliminary construction work has begun at 122 Parsons Ave., a vacant lot in Olde Towne East that has seen numerous development proposals over the years.

The latest concept calls for a four-story building that will hold 78 apartments, a first-floor parking garage, and about 1,900 square feet of retail space. READ MORE

Columbus Underground October 8, 2018

Hang Over Easy to Open Second Columbus Location in Olde Towne East

Due to popular demand, Hang Over Easy will open a second location in Columbus. It’ll be serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner at its new digs at 51 Parsons Ave., where Black Creek Bistro operated for 10 years. READ MORE

Columbus Underground August 30, 2018

New housing in Olde Towne East a ‘natural progression of central city development’

One of the area’s top real estate experts says he’s “constantly amazed at the frequency that a developer is able to put together a site that others may have overlooked in places like German Village and the Short North.”

Up next, they say, is Olde Towne East. READ MORE

Columbus Business First  January 11, 2018

Owner proposes apartments, restaurant in century-old historic building

The owner of an Olde Towne East building on the national and Columbus historic registers wants to spend $1.5 million to convert it into 15 apartments, a first-floor restaurant and a surface parking lot. READ MORE

The Columbus Dispatch December 29, 2017

Brad Hobbs: Central Ohio’s ‘Bankable’ Restaurateur

Growing up in Youngstown, OH, Brad Hobbs’ first job was delivering pizza for Little Caesars, followed by a position at TGI Fridays. He knew right away that he would be spending the rest of his life in the restaurant business. READ MORE

Metropreneur November 24, 2017

Franklinton, Olde Towne East trying to make comebacks

The city annexed Olde Towne East in 1879, and it was once home to Columbus’ business leaders and politicians. Its revitalization has been in the works for 30 years. READ MORE

The Columbus Dispatch

Proposed condo project another good sign for Olde Towne East

A $4-million condominium project in Olde Towne East is another example of the area’s growing desirability. The 14 units that will be built at 1080 Bryden Road will sell for $300,000 to $400,000 each, on a site that’s been vacant for almost 40 years. READ MORE

July 6, 2017 The Columbus Dispatch

Home tour will showcase Olde Towne East’s transformation

Since central Ohio home prices hit their recession-caused low in early 2012 Olde Towne housing has been on fire. In five years, home values in the neighborhood immediately east of Downtown have risen 48 percent, almost twice the regional average of 26 percent, according to Zillow. READ MORE

July 2, 2017 The Columbus Dispatch

New Single Family Home in Olde Towne East a Departure for Lifestyle Communities

“This is more about a strategic approach to development, and going through the execution of what we need to do in order to fit into and enhance a neighborhood,” said Sam Stark, VP of Real Estate Sales for Lifestyle Communities (LC). “This happens to be one single family home, but to us, it’s still a development project, and we want to see if we get it right.” READ MORE

June 6, 2017 Columbus Underground

Most-Desired Airbnb Listings in Central Ohio

Many Airbnb rentals in Central Ohio are unused rooms that allow their owners to make some extra cash. But the the room that’s on most wish lists around town isn’t just any old room – it’s one in famous American artist George Bellows’ former home in Olde Towne East. READ MORE

May 16, 2017 Columbus Business First

From Olde Towne East To “Mercy Street,” Corset Artist Makes A Stitch In Time

From her home in Olde Towne East, Larissa Boiwka makes custom corsets for people, and television producers, around the world. READ MORE

April 24, 2017 WOSU Public Media

Old Towne East Home Values Skyrocket

Topping the list is Olde Towne East, the neighborhood of century-old homes south of East Broad Street and east of Interstate 71 near Downtown. Zillow found that the average home value there jumped from $87,600 in December 2012 to $134,000 in December 2016 – a rise of 53 percent, with much of the increase occurring during the past three years. READ MORE

January 27, 2017 Columbus Dispatch

What the Waffle Now Serving Breakfast in Olde Towne East

Old Towne East’s latest breakfast spot is just a month old, but What the Waffle owner Gayle Troy said it already appears to be exactly what the neighborhood wanted. READ MORE

December 13, 2016 Columbus Underground

Time Money Magazine’s Best Big Cities. Olde Towne East, Gets a Mention! Read Full Article Here

September 17, 2016 Time Magazine

Olde Towne East Related Articles from Columbus Underground

Next Phase of Interstate 70/71 Construction Delayed Until 2018

The next phase of the multi-part Interstate 70/71 “Columbus Crossroads” construction project has officially been pushed back another year to 2018, according to officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation. This phase, known as the “Project 2D — East Interchange” includes the highway intersection where I-71 and I-70 meet on the southeast side of Downtown near Nationwide Children’s Hospital. READ MORE

April 12, 2016 Columbus Underground

New Proposal for Vacant Lot on Parsons Calls for 78 Units, Retail

A new proposal for a long-vacant lot at 122 Parsons Avenue calls for 78 apartments and about 3,300 square feet of retail space. A three-story building would fill most of the one-acre site, with a 106-space first-floor garage providing parking, along with nine outdoor spaces and 20 individual one-car garages accessed from Gustavus Lane. READ MORE

April 11, 2016 Columbus Underground

39 Below FroYo Opening Soon on Parsons Avenue

When we last heard from Carolyn Maloney at 39 Below FroYo, she had announced plans to close her Gay Street store and relocate to Olde Towne East. After a winter hibernation mode, the new shop at 85 Parsons Avenue is nearly ready for its debut. READ MORE

March 14, 2016 Columbus Underground

Rehab Activity Picking up Steam on Near East Side

Neighborhood leaders and city officials are cautiously optimistic about a recent uptick in rehab activity on the Near East Side. John Turner, Administrator of the city’s Land Redevelopment Office, said that 23 homes — all vacant and in need of serious work when they were bought from the city’s land bank — are currently in the process of being renovated in the neighborhood. READ MORE

March 12, 2016 Columbus Underground

Here’s where home prices are appreciating the most in Central Ohio

The top area in Central Ohio for home price appreciation is an urban community made up of historic neighborhoods, iconic restaurants and the second-oldest park in the city. Prices there soared more than 300 percent from 2010 to 2015. READ MORE

Feb 4, 2016 Columbus Biz Insider

Camelot Cellars Relocating to Olde Towne East

Urban boutique winery Camelot Cellars is packing up their business to relocate from the Short North to Olde Towne East. Citing an expanding production and wholesale business, Camelot owner Janine Aquino said that the move is primarily to have more room to grow. READ MORE

December 10, 2015 Columbus Underground

Restaurant Review: J Hot Fish

It’s taken too long to get to J Hot Fish. Some people might know the Olde Towne East location as the former home of the very popular Hot Chicken Takeover (now holed up in the North Market). Others might know it as a longstanding fresh fish market, United Provision. On Thursdays through Sundays, the address is serving up fried seafood from J Hot Fish. READ MORE

October 14, 2015 Columbus Underground

Arcade Super Awesome Opening in Olde Towne East

Arcade Super Awesome is the newest arcade to open in Columbus this summer, but it’s also already been around for the past five years. John Geiger launched the home-based project to host semi-monthly private parties for friends to come and enjoy retro video games together. READ MORE

June 10, 2015 Columbus Underground

Headies Hideout Now Open on Parsons Avenue

If you’ve strolled down Parsons Avenue in Olde Towne East recently, then you may have noticed that a long-time thrift shop has been replaced by a head shop. READ MORE

May 22, 2015 Columbus Underground

Makeover Planned for Parsons Avenue in Olde Towne East

The small stretch of Parsons Avenue that runs along the western edge of Olde Towne East has always been a hotspot of activity for the neighborhood. Home to numerous restaurants, bars, shops and businesses, Parsons Avenue is the default place to go for an art gallery exhibition, a haircut, or a cup of coffee. READ MORE

December 10, 2014Columbus Underground

Olde Towne East re-emerges as ‘a cool place to be’

Last year, Scott Blodgett and Tom House paid $47,000 for an 1,800-square-foot three-story home in the Olde Towne East neighborhood. A block down the street, a slightly smaller home is now listed for $204,000. READ MORE

November 9, 2014 The Columbus Dispatch

Bicyclists’ needs steer line of custom Seagull carryalls

The holiday season means that the four employees at Seagull Bags are sewing all day and into the night. READ MORE

December 15, 2014 The Columbus Dispatch

Food news: J Hot Fish debuts in Olde Towne East this weekend

J Hot Fish, debuting at 1117 Oak St. in Olde Towne East (original digs of Hot Chicken Takeover), opens for lunch and dinner hours Friday and Saturday, March 6-7. Friday hours will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., while Saturday the fish and chips stand will be open from 1-4 p.m. READ MORE

March 5, 2015 Columbus Alive

Olde Towne East’s E.T. Paul to end 119 years in tire business

After 119 years, E.T. Paul Co. is about to sell its last tires. The Olde Towne East business, started as a blacksmith shop by the great-grandfather of the current owner, is closing at the end of the month to make way for the state’s expansion of I-71. READ MORE

December 25, 2014 The Columbus Dispatch

At Home: Seeing the Changes of Olde Towne East

Steve D’Aoust has witnessed much of the changes happening in Olde Towne East first hand. “I was born and raised near Detroit and summered in West Virginia and wintered in Marietta,” he says. READ MORE

September 7, 2014 Columbus Underground

A new generation in Olde Towne East

North of Main Street, Parsons hosts an eccentric little strip of establishments. Ron Barker’s ornery punker tavern, Carabar, is there; so too is Upper Cup, just a bit north, and nearly adjacent to Chop Chop, the longtime feisty gallery. READ MORE

July 31, 2014 614 Columbus

Some Olde Towne East tour renovations finished just in time

For the past 15 years, Tamera Bryant has been hard at work transforming an Olde Towne East duplex into a single-family home. Now, with countless hours of restoration under her belt, she’s working on a firm deadline of Sunday to put the finishing touches on the first floor so the house shines in the neighborhood’s Summer Tour of Historic Homes. READ MORE

July 6, 2014 The Columbus Dispatch

The next wave: Where is region’s next Short North?

Forward-thinking developers have helped Columbus join the national trend of urban revitalization — bringing working, shopping, dining and living spaces together in attractive, walkable environments. READ MORE

June 29, 2014 The Columbus Dispatch