Art Hopping, New to Uptown, Leaving Uptown, and Power Change
Art Hop Returns to Uptown Westerville
Uptown Westerville will become a showcase of creativity this Saturday as the Art Hop returns from 12 to 4 p.m., with a packed afternoon of music, performance, and visual art. Organized by Uptown Westerville Inc. and presented by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the event blends local talent with family-friendly programming across multiple venues.
At the Generations Performing Arts Center on West College Avenue, visitors can catch dance choreography sessions and a rotating lineup of comedic mini-performances by Good Medicine Productions. Musicians will play throughout the district and perform at Jimmy V’s, Good Vibes Winery, Fattey Beer Co., and Java Central.
The Westerville Historical Society will lead two walking tours exploring the historic theaters of Uptown, beginning at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. outside Los Altos Mexican Bar & Grill. At the same time, Birdie Books will celebrate Indie Bookstore Day with prize drawings and extended shopping hours.
Live art will be on full display, with chalk artists transforming the sidewalks at Hanby School and immersive gallery experiences at David Myers Art Studio and the Daylight Artist Collective. The Westerville Library and partners will host kid-friendly stations with balloon art and illustration activities near the Columbus Running Company.
Community members can also explore student and professional art on display throughout Uptown businesses. Saturday’s forecast looks promising, and with free events for all ages, the Art Hop is set to once again bring color, music, and energy to the streets of Westerville.
Cannons Open Begin Cafe
Kayla Tompkins and a family friend share the joy of popping confetti cannons to open Begin Café on East Main Street Thursday morning.
Mike and Kayla Tompkins, known for their viral a cappella videos and Van Life YouTube series, are settling in Uptown Westerville with Begin Café and Bakery. After years of traveling and content creation, the Canadian couple chose Westerville for its community ties and family-friendly atmosphere, converting the former Grandfather Clock Company shop on East Main Street into a restaurant.
Their journey to Westerville included stops in Los Angeles and Nashville, where they almost launched a coffee shop—plans halted by the pandemic. During that time, they purchased a home near Hoover Reservoir and shifted their focus to building community in Ohio. The couple’s deep ties to friends in the area, along with the needs of their growing family, sparked the idea to make Begin an extension of their home.
Kayla, who designed the café using many of the same elements from their house—down to the light fixtures and wallpaper—says Begin is meant to feel like walking into their living room. The café emphasizes connection, calm, and good food, with a menu of house-made baked goods and drinks inspired by their travels.
Begin continues its soft preview on Friday and Saturday, bringing the Tompkins' next chapter to life, off-screen and on Main Street.
A Change In Investments
Movers completed their tasks today, transferring Edward Jones Investments into its new offices on McCorkle Boulevard.
Edward Jones Financial Advisor Tim Bullock recently bought an office in a business center north of Uptown, moving his offices to a larger and more accessible location.
The company’s departure will leave an empty storefront sandwiched between Uptown Deli and Brew and Edwin Loy Home.
Streetscape Upgrade Complete
Westerville Electric removed the utility pole in front of the Ampersand restaurant on Thursday. This marked the completion of an upgrade to the streetscape, the power distribution system for both the restaurant and apartment building, and the traffic signals and street lights on State Street.
The restaurant's power supply has now been moved underground, and the distribution system has been updated to a more modern pad system, which allowed for the removal of the pole.
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