Westerville in Review - April 2025
More Coffee , and Waffles - April 1, 2025
Contractors have started transforming a South State Street storefront into Waffle Way Cafe, a new spot serving waffles, crepes, baked goods, and coffee in the city’s latest mixed-use development. Two doors down from Espresso Air, owner Talip Kucuker will open WestHouse this summer, offering matcha drinks and chocolate bento boxes. At 8 E. Main, Mike and Kayla Tompkins plan to open Begin Cafe on April 24, promising a warm space for espresso, cold brew, and gourmet toast.
City’s Electric Power Source Plans - April 2, 2025
City Council hears the first reading of legislation to install solar panels at the Community Center as the first step in a broader plan to add solar power at city facilities, while also considering Community Entertainment District legislation.
Street Closings for April - April 3, 2025
The city outlines a three-week closure of Africa Road at County Line Road beginning April 7 to tie in new sanitary sewer lines for the East of Africa project, with details on detours and how the work fits into the larger development.
New School Board Member - April 4, 2025
Dwight Heckelman has been appointed to the Westerville City School Board to fill the remainder of Tracy Davidson’s term through the end of 2025, bringing experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and the arts. On the same day, a body was recovered from Hoover Reservoir after being discovered by two men fishing near the Smothers Road bridge; the identity has not yet been released.
Road Repairs, Rebuilds, and Upgrades - April 5, 2025
A contractor finishes sanitary sewer upgrades on East Broadway by setting the last manhole cover, with paving scheduled to follow, and an update on how the work ties into broader neighborhood infrastructure improvements.
Protesters Line State Street in Westerville as Part of Nationwide “Hands Off” Rallies - April 6, 2025
Protesters gathered along both sides of State Street in Uptown Westerville on Saturday as part of more than 1,300 coordinated “Hands Off” rallies held across the country in response to actions by President Trump and adviser Elon Musk. Locally organized by John Gatiss and Indivisible Central Ohio, the demonstration brought out first-time and longtime participants advocating for issues including education, reproductive rights, and Social Security.
Sacrifice Met At McDonald’s - April 7, 2025
A Lenten fish sandwich review at McDonald’s, weighing the tension between religious observance, convenience, and the mixed experience of eating a Filet-O-Fish.
Lessons From The School Board - April 8, 2025
Newly appointed school board member Dwight Heckelman was sworn in as the board discussed financial threats tied to proposed state legislation that could strip $121 million from Westerville’s general fund and force annual levies. Treasurer Nicole Marshall emphasized the need to educate lawmakers on local school funding. In Uptown, tall traffic sensors were installed to study signal timing along State Street, and Africa Road remains closed as sewer work for the East of Africa project progresses.
Invasive Bradford Pear Replacement Plan - April 9, 2025
A new Franklin Soil and Water program offers residents $100 to remove Callery and Bradford pear trees and replace them with native species, highlighting both the ecological harm of these trees and their widespread presence along local streets and fields.
Collection’s Celebrated Comeback - April 10, 2025
The Anti-Saloon League archive returns to Westerville after more than 50 years in state storage, with museum staff unpacking the collection and preparing it for public access at the Westerville History Museum.
Chick, Smash, Flooding, Sewer Photos - April 11, 2025
Final preparations are underway at the new Chick-fil-A on Polaris Parkway, with crews cleaning the parking lot ahead of its expected opening. Construction continues on schedule at Smash Park, a 50,000-square-foot social entertainment venue set to open summer 2025 with pickleball courts, a bar, and games. Youth soccer at the Westerville Community Center went on as planned despite standing water near the fields after recent rains. The city is reinforcing its aging sewer infrastructure by installing fiberglass liners inside older brick manholes to extend their lifespan and prevent future failures.
Delayed Start at City Hall and Africa Road Closing Contiinues - April 12, 2025
The city’s delayed utility project behind Westerville City Hall finally got underway as crews began removing bricks for the fire suppression water line installation, disrupting weekday traffic and prompting a temporary detour through the First Presbyterian Church lot. At the same time, major sewer work at County Line and Africa Road continued, with lanes closed to accommodate deep trench work supporting the East of Africa development.
CATS Auditions and Food Reviews - April 14, 2025
Auditions wrapped for Westerville Civic Theater’s upcoming productions of CATS, Chicago, and Elf, the Musical, Jr., as young performers like 10-year-old Ella Rodemaker submitted paperwork for a role. Meanwhile, a disappointing $3.09 Kroger fish sandwich ended this season’s Lenten fast food review on a low note, with dry ingredients and little flavor. In the latest grape review, a clamshell of Welch’s-brand Chilean grapes from Meijer also failed to impress—lacking sweetness and value—prompting a recommendation to stick with bagged varieties instead.
Chick-fil-A Opening Set - April 15, 2025
Chick-fil-A will open this Friday on Polaris Parkway, joining a dense cluster of chicken-focused restaurants within a short stretch of the corridor. Nearby, efforts are underway to address invasive Bradford pear trees impacting farmland and Otterbein University’s hay production. USDA officials discussed possible solutions, including a delayed, partially reimbursed program combining mechanical and chemical removal. Farmer Kevin Scott noted the urgency of the problem, which has also raised visibility concerns on Cooper Road.
Council Approves Security and Electric Purchases - April 16, 2025
Westerville City Council approved two major purchases this week, including security barriers to protect pedestrians during events like Fourth Friday, and a new energy procurement plan authorizing up to 300,000 megawatt-hours of baseload electricity through 2030. The barriers were selected for their quick deployment, effectiveness, and international safety certification.
Road Work Begins, Continues, And Ends - April 17, 2025
Weather conditions dictate when westbound lanes of County Line Road can reopen after deep excavations for utility work, while Africa Road remains closed for additional weeks as part of the same construction effort.
Cleared Fields At East of Africa - April 18, 2025
Fields once lined with mature trees have now been cleared and graded for the East of Africa development, with tree trunks stacked at the site’s edge and mulch transferred to Kurtz Brothers in Delaware for processing. The Hoover Sailing Club hosted a practice session for the upcoming DragonFlite 95 Regatta, its first for the radio-controlled boat class.
Windy And Warm Westerville - April 19, 2025
On a rare warm, windy spring day, three women cross State Street in short sleeves as 40-mile-per-hour gusts push against them, capturing how residents briefly enjoy the sun between rounds of rain and flooding.
Last Fish Of The Season - April 21, 2025
The final Lenten fish review shifts to a chicken restaurant’s fish offering, pairing it with grape notes and reflecting on a weeks-long tour of fast-food fish sandwiches in and around Westerville.
Road Closing Next Week - April 22, 2025
The city announces that West Main Street and Park Road will close for 30 days starting April 28 to allow construction crews to extend a multi-use path over I-71 and connect it to Sharon Woods.
From Viral Videos to Fresh-Baked Beginnings - April 23, 2025
Mike and Kayla Tompkins, known for their viral music videos and YouTube channel chronicling their Van Life journey, have opened Begin Café in Uptown Westerville, transforming a century-old storefront into a cozy space designed to feel like an extension of their home. After years of traveling and nearly launching a coffee shop in Nashville, the couple chose to settle in Westerville to raise their children near friends and familiar faces. Begin combines their love for hospitality, baking, and community into a welcoming café offering artisanal drinks and food.
East of Africa For Sale - April 24, 2025
Westerville has listed multiple plots in its East of Africa development for sale at $250,000 per acre, totaling up to $10 million in potential sales. The 88-acre site has been divided into parcels ranging from 5 to 15 acres, designated for commercial and office use. The city bought the land for $8.4 million and is investing $30 million in infrastructure upgrades. Meanwhile, the Planning Commission approved relocating the Farmers Market to the North High Brewing lot due to City Hall construction. Also, it gave the green light to a new private social club, “No Soliciting,” on South State Street with design modifications.
Art Hopping, New to Uptown, Leaving Uptown, and Power Change - April 25, 2025
Uptown Westerville will host the Art Hop this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., offering a mix of live music, visual art, performance, and family activities throughout the district. Begin Café officially opened on East Main Street with a confetti sendoff as Mike and Kayla Tompkins welcomed the community into their renovated space, designed to feel like an extension of their home. Edward Jones Investments has relocated to McCorkle Boulevard, leaving a vacancy between Uptown Deli and Brew and Edwin Loy Home. On State Street, Westerville Electric removed the last utility pole near Ampersand restaurant, completing an upgrade to the area’s power system and finalizing streetscape improvements.
Fight At Westerville South, Arbor Day Plantings, and Bookstore Independence - April 26, 2025
A fight at Westerville South High School on Tuesday involving both students and three non-students prompted a police response, resulting in the discovery of a BB gun in a backpack and several listed offenses, though no charges had been filed as of Friday. Also this week, volunteers from Vertiv and Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries planted nearly 400 native trees at Boyer Nature Preserve as part of Arbor Day efforts to restore native habitat following the removal of invasive honeysuckle. Meanwhile, Birdie Books will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday with extended hours, a food truck, prize giveaways, and participation in the Central Ohio Indie Bookstore Crawl, which coincides with the Uptown Art Hop.
Art, Arrests, Clean Up, And Soft Food - April 28, 2025
Saturday’s Art Hop filled Uptown Westerville with sidewalk chalk, live music, student artwork, and local performers, creating a colorful afternoon of visual and performing arts across stores and venues. At 270 Huber Village Blvd., four people were arrested during a drug task force raid involving multiple agencies, though no drugs were listed in Westerville Police’s report. One suspect had warrants for kidnapping and rape, and another was charged with identity fraud after providing a false name. The address had previously been the site of a death investigation that uncovered suspected drug use and a homemade explosive. Also this weekend, volunteers packed dumpsters during Blendon Township’s spring clean-up, and Begin Café concluded a three-day soft opening, drawing steady lines and giving its staff their first run-through in the renovated East Main space. Ampersand Asian Supper Club hosted a private soft launch of its ramen and small-plates menu, marking another upcoming addition to Uptown’s food scene.
Africa Road Sewer Install Slows - April 29, 2025
Unstable glacial soil has slowed sewer work on Africa Road, pushing the reopening past its expected date. Main Street Bridge utility pole installation nears completion, with the new bike path and road expected to open by mid-May. Birmingham Road is being rebuilt with new curbs and resurfacing, closing through traffic until mid-June. A local grape taste test found Walmart’s green grapes the sweetest this week.
Brick Jig Saw Puzzle and Restaurants Now Open - April 30, 2025
Crews reinstalled bricks at City Hall’s curved parking lot after water line work, facing alignment challenges with reused materials. Ampersand Asian Supper Club opened for lunch and dinner on West College, offering Guam- and Japanese-style dishes from the owners of Asterisk. The former Roush Honda used car building on 3C Highway has been demolished to make way for a trucking warehouse.
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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