No Soliciting Social Club Moves Toward Opening. South State Trees Getting Upgrades. East Main House Renovations Approved.
No Soliciting Club Renovation Moves Ahead On South State
A former sewing shop and nearly forgotten ice cream venture is getting new life as construction continues on the No Soliciting social club at 769 S. State St.
The property was once home to Sew-N-Save, which moved several years ago. Its next tenant was supposed to be an ice cream shop, but the plan fell apart after the owners painted the building bright purple and pink without city approval. The South State Street Overlay District prohibits such color schemes, and the shop backed out before ever opening. The building then sat empty until Rise Brands, the Columbus hospitality company behind Pins Mechanical and 16-Bit Bar+Arcade, stepped in.
Rise is now converting the 4,000-square-foot space into the third No Soliciting location, joining sites in downtown Columbus and Dublin’s Bridge Park. Renovation work recently reached a milestone, with plumbing and framing now complete. The next steps include electrical, HVAC, and finishing work.
City officials approved the interior redesign in April, and Westerville voters cleared the way for alcohol sales in May, including Sunday service. Plans call for a speakeasy-inspired layout with a custom bar, booth seating, Prohibition-era décor, and a small kitchen to support the bar program, along with a patio wrapping around two sides of the building.
Membership will cost $1,000 annually, continuing the brand’s no-cash, no-tipping model where tabs are billed monthly. The bar will offer a broad selection of bourbon, ranging from well-known labels to more rare and hard-to-find bottles, and feature private rooms for networking.
The Westerville location is expected to open later this year.
Contractors Continue Tree Replacement, Sidewalk Repairs on South State Street
Orange safety barriers are back along South State Street as contractors work on the second year of a four-year plan to revitalize portions of the corridor. This phase focuses on replacing trees and repairing the sidewalk grates and ground coverings that have become hazards over time.
Many of the original sidewalk installations, intended to protect tree roots and improve aesthetics, ended up doing more harm than good. Warped grates and compacted soil stunted tree growth and created tripping risks for pedestrians. Crews are now removing the old infrastructure and preparing the pits for new trees and safer, more sustainable ground coverings.
The multi-year revitalization plan aims to improve walkability, enhance the street’s appearance, and support healthier urban greenery. Work will continue in phases to minimize disruption to traffic and businesses along the corridor.
Pedestrians and drivers are advised to exercise caution in areas with active work zones.
Uptown Review Board Approves Home Upgrades And Renovations
A house on East Main Street will receive new windows, doors, and vinyl siding after gaining approval from the Uptown Review Board Thursday night.
The board briefly discussed removing the old wooden doors, which had become damaged and leaked during storms, and replacing them with modern doors instead of repairing the originals. Board member Roxanne Anderson, at left in the photo above, asked building owner Brian Lehner whether he had conducted any studies to compare the cost of repairs with the cost of replacing the windows. Lehner admitted that he had not done such a study and expressed interest in finding a more efficient and affordable way to upgrade the house, which would involve replacements.
City staff recognized that removing the original doors and windows would be a loss to the historic building. However, they pointed out that if those features are beyond repair, the proposed replacements are reasonable and preserve the building’s character—assuming that outstanding questions, such as those about the east façade’s first-story windows, are resolved.
While staff preferred wood or cement fiber board siding, they recognized that vinyl siding is allowed under current design guidelines and is already used elsewhere in the historic district, despite its limitations. The board approved the use of vinyl siding, which could replicate the look of board and batten instead of traditional horizontal siding, as the owner requested.
Although the original design did not include shutters, staff expressed support for adding them, as long as they are properly sized and placed to look like real shutters.
Lehner repeatedly told the board that he based all his renovations on the improvements at 50 East Home Street, just a block away, which the board had approved for the same changes he was requesting.
The board approved the request, with Anderson voting “no” after asking whether the approval would set a precedent for changing historic Uptown buildings beyond their original design, thus violating the Uptown Review Board’s charter to protect the unique nature of the city’s center.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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