The Columbus Dispatch | TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | 17A BUSINESS Bath & Body Works to expand, add jobs Mark Williams lion in investments across the state. packaging markets. Columbus Dispatch Bath & Body Works will build a 1 mil- Hiring for machine operators, main- USA TODAY NETWORK lion-square-foot distribution center at tenance technicians, supervisors, ma- 1022 Exchange Way in Scioto Township terial handlers and other roles will be- Like Peloton, which is building its in Pickaway County. The first phase of gin in 2022. first Ohio factory, Columbus-based the project will be ready in August The tax credits are worth $136,000. Bath & Body Works has seen soaring 2022. The second phase is expected to Separately, Nuvik USA announced demand during the pandemic. be complete in August 2023. Bath & Body Works will add 500 jobs in last week that it is expanding its Ga- The soaps, lotions and hand sanitiz- “We continue to see tremendous central Ohio to meet growing online hanna operations at 930 Claycraft er retailer plans to add 500 workers to growth out of our Bath & Body Works demand. BATH & BODY WORKS Road, creating 43 jobs and investing its existing 3,000 in central Ohio to fill online business,” Andrew Meslow, CEO $1.2 million. online orders at a new distribution of Bath & Body Works owner L Brands, Hiring for production, engineering, center to be built in Pickaway County. told analysts on a conference call last mated $1.8 million. warehouse, administrative, sales and The project was among those in- week. Also getting approval Monday for finance jobs will begin in the next few cluding Peloton’s to receive approval “As we just reported, results on a tax incentives was Transcendia, which weeks. from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority for two-year basis for the direct channel plans to create 36 jobs in Union Town- Nuvik makes the Crocodile Cloth in- state tax incentives Monday. were up 123% in the first quarter, and ship in Licking County as part of an ex- dustrial-strength disposable cleaning Overall, the agency approved nine that’s after the full year 2020 where the pansion of its operations there. The cloth. projects that will create 3,214 jobs and business essentially doubled, so very company will add 52,000 square feet to Nuvik currently has three full-time retain 4,520 jobs statewide. The pro- pleased with the momentum we con- its facility at 3700 Hebron Road to sup- workers in Gahanna. jects will result in more than $187 mil- tinue to see there.” port film applications in the health [email protected] lion in new payroll and spur $606 mil- The tax incentives are worth an esti- care, food, beverage and industrial @BizMarkWilliams
City Barbeque ‘Such a destination’ sues Ohio City BBQ
Sarah Donaldson Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK
The kitchen is getting hot for two Ohio-based barbecue joints. Columbus-based City Barbeque filed a lawsuit May 17 against Ohio City BBQ in Cleveland for trademark infringement and unfair competition in U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division. City Barbeque holds a common law trademark on its name and mark. It has Northeast Ohio restaurants in Strongs- ville and Beachwood. Ohio City is a neighborhood just west of downtown Cleveland. City Barbeque says the complaint fol- lows several unsuccessful attempts to contact Ohio City BBQ and propose a co- existence agreement, in which each company would take steps to mitigate customer confusion between the busi- nesses. Several customers, for example, have
See BBQ, Page 18A
A look at M at Miranova after a three-week remodeling process in 2019. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants has confirmed that the shuttered restaurant will not reopen. PHOTOS BY KYLE ROBERTSON/DISPATCH Smaller center Customers reminisce about closed M at Miranova events trigger Patrick Cooley Columbus Dispatch more foot traffic USA TODAY NETWORK Patrick Cooley Prior to this week, Columbus had only two res- Columbus Dispatch taurants that earned the prestigious AAA Four Dia- USA TODAY NETWORK mond award: the Refectory on the Northwest Side and M at Miranova downtown. When Stephanie Tersigni decided to Now it has only one. open Jolie Occasions, her women’s Cameron Mitchell Restaurants confirmed May 18 clothing boutique, it wasn’t hard to find that M, one of the city’s most celebrated the right neighborhood to put it in. restaurants, will not reopen. “The biggest reason I personally The news came as a shock to those who worked wanted to open a business in the Short or dined there. M at Miranova was one of many restaurants North is because of the convention cen- “The day that the governor shut us down, we all closed initially by the onset of the pandemic. ter,” Tersigni said. “It’s such a destina- cried our eyes out,” said Cris Dehlavi, the head bar- tion for travelers and out-of-town peo- tender until the restaurant closed in March 2020. ple. The foot traffic there is unbeatable.” “But we only thought it would be for a couple was noticeably absent. Any mention of the restau- Unfortunately, the Greater Columbus weeks. It’s heartbreaking to know that that restau- rant was scrubbed from the Cameron Mitchell web- Convention Center on North High Street rant is not going to reopen.” site and the restaurant’s own website now links to at the southern end of the Short North The upscale restaurant in the swanky Miranova the site for the Budd Dairy Food Hall in Italian was largely closed for much of the past Place tower was one of more than a dozen central Village. year, as coronavirus guidelines restrict- Ohio restaurants Cameron Mitchell closed at the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants eventually con- ing capacity and mandating social dis- onset of the pandemic with the understanding that firmed that M will not reopen. tancing ruled out tightly packed indoor they would reopen once conditions improved. But as the company announced reopenings, M See RESTAURANT, Page 18A See EVENTS, Page 18A
Start your COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TODAY at columbusceo.com. 18A | TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 | THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Stocks of local interest Companies based in central Ohio and other major local employers. Preliminary closing figures for Monday, May 24, 2021 Events Name Tkr Last Chg %Chg Name Tkr Last Chg %Chg Name Tkr Last Chg %Chg Name Tkr Last Chg %Chg AT&T T 29.75 -.26 -.9 Citigroup C 78.03 +.38 +.5 Installed Building IBP 115.23 +.23 +.2 Owens Corning OC 105.16 +1.36 +1.3 Abbott Labs ABT 117.29 +.16 +.1 Comm Vehicle Grp CVGI 12.60 +.14 +1.1 IBM IBM 144.72 -.02 ... PNC Financial PNC 193.99 +.51 +.3 Continued from Page 17A Abercrombie ANF 37.64 +.48 +1.3 Core Molding CMT 13.66 -.25 -1.8 JPMorgan Chase JPM 163.54 +.88 +.5 Park National PRK 125.19 -2.28 -1.8 Accenture PLC ACN 284.85 +1.47 +.5 Designer Brands DBI 18.34 +.11 +.6 KeyCorp KEY 23.04 -.08 -.3 Post Holdings POST 115.59 +.22 +.2 Adv Drainage Sys WMS 115.74 +3.65 +3.3 Diamond Hill DHIL 175.27 -1.31 -.7 Kroger KR 36.60 +.01 ... Rocky Brands RCKY 53.17 +1.45 +2.8 events. Alliance Data ADS 118.30 +.59 +.5 Discover Fin Svcs DFS 114.78 +.81 +.7 L Brands LB 66.21 +1.42 +2.2 Scotts Miracle-Gr SMG 219.08 +4.08 +1.9 The enormous indoor venue started Alphabet C GOOG 2406.67 +61.57 +2.6 Emerson Electric EMR 94.01 +.36 +.4 Lancaster Colony LANC 186.20 -.79 -.4 State Auto STFC 19.00 -.07 -.4 Amazon AMZN 3244.99 +41.91 +1.3 Express EXPR 3.73 +.32 +9.4 M/I Homes MHO 66.63 ...... Target TGT 225.41 +.32 +.1 hosting modest events with several AEP AEP 86.57 -.08 -.1 Facebook FB 324.63 +8.40 +2.7 Macy’s M 17.91 -.29 -1.6 UPS UPS 213.43 +1.56 +.7 hundred participants this spring as Anheuser-Busch BUD 75.97 +.21 +.3 Fifth Third Bank FITB 41.87 -.05 -.1 Marathon Petro MPC 60.73 +1.14 +1.9 Verizon VZ 56.98 +.07 +.1 Apple Inc s AAPL 127.10 +1.67 +1.3 Fiserv FISV 115.86 +1.64 +1.4 McDonald’s MCD 231.91 +.67 +.3 Vertiv Holdings VRT 24.33 +.68 +2.9 COVID-19 restrictions were gradually Ashland Global ASH 90.01 +.95 +1.1 GE GE 13.18 -.05 -.4 Mettler-Toledo MTD 1280.11 +3.82 +.3 Walmart WMT 141.76 +.01 ... lifted, bringing back some of the busi- Big Lots BIG 63.64 -.55 -.9 Greif GEF 63.12 -.26 -.4 Microsoft MSFT 250.78 +5.61 +2.3 Washington Prime WPG .91 ...... Cardinal Health CAH 56.63 -.71 -1.2 Honda HMC 31.10 +.12 +.4 NiSource NI 25.56 +.14 +.6 Wendy’s WEN 23.25 -.34 -1.4 ness that retailers and restaurants ex- Charter Comm CHTR 703.13 +10.61 +1.5 Huntington Banc HBAN 15.64 -.10 -.6 Nokia NOK 5.02 -.03 -.6 Worthington Ind WOR 66.12 +.65 +1.0 pect, area business owners said. “Tourism and the hospitality indus- 52-Week Net 12-Mo 1 Wk High Low Index Last Chg %Chg %Chg Rates Last Ago Commodities Exch Exp Settle Chg try in general took a big hit during the 35,091.56 24,059.98 Dow Industrials 34,393.98 +186.14 +.54 +40.58 Prime Rate 3.25 3.25 Gold ($/oz) COMX May 1884.60 +7.90 pandemic,” said Don Brown, executive 16,170.05 8,015.50 Dow Transportation 15,609.81 +134.03 +.87 +84.29 Discount Rate 0.75 0.75 Silver (cents/oz) COMX May 2788.7 +41.4 director for the Franklin County Con- 937.38 745.40 Dow Utilities 907.57 -.96 -.11 +18.80 Federal Funds Rate 0.00-0.25 0.00-0.25 Platinum ($/oz) NYMX Jul 1177.60 +8.20 16,685.72 11,248.54 NYSE Composite 16,464.70 +89.69 +.55 +45.29 Treasuries Copper (cents/lb) COMX May 454.15 +4.55 vention Facilities Authority, which op- 14,211.57 9,144.32 Nasdaq Composite 13,661.17 +190.18 +1.41 +46.51 3-month 0.01 0.01 Crude oil ($/bbl) NYMX Jul 65.97 +2.39 6,691.98 4,327.11 Nasdaq Global Sel 6,450.98 +92.78 +1.46 +46.24 Natural gas ($/mm btu) NYMX Jun 2.886 -.020 erates the convention center. “We have 1,924.34 1,341.39 S&P 100 1,905.15 +21.99 +1.17 +40.19 6-month 0.02 0.03 Cattle (cents/lb) CME Jun 116.75 -.92 survived, and we have very strong 4,238.04 2,913.86 S&P 500 4,197.05 +41.19 +.99 +42.01 5-year 0.84 0.82 Corn (cents/bu) CBOT Jul 658 -1.50 2,780.08 1,639.82 S&P MidCap 2,702.28 +12.44 +.46 +59.40 10-year 1.63 1.63 Soybeans (cents/bu) CBOT Jul 1521.75 -4.50 bookings next year and the following 44,386.09 28,934.88 Wilshire 5000 43,751.29 +428.55 +.99 +45.76 30-year 2.33 2.37 Wheat (cents/bu) CBOT Jul 662.25 -12 year, and we’re very optimistic that we will come out of this in a strong posi- tion.” The massive conventions that draw thousands of people to Columbus are still more than a year away. A gathering for the Professional Convention Man- BBQ agement Association is set for January 2023 and represents the next “big” Continued from Page 17A event at the center, Brown said. But the venue is hosting smaller called a City Barbeque location mistak- gatherings, such as competitions in enly, under the impression they were sports like gymnastics, cheerleading, speaking to Ohio City BBQ, according to dance and powerlifting. The state po- the lawsuit. werlifting championships, for example, In 2019, after City Barbeque had are scheduled for Saturday, and a junior reached out about a coexistence agree- volleyball tournament is scheduled for ment, the lawsuit alleges that City Bar- the following weekend. beque’s attorneys received an envelope Shop and restaurant owners in the with a torn copy of the letter and a “hand- Arena District and the Short North say written message from Ohio City BBQ City Barbeque has sued Ohio City BBQ in Cleveland for trademark infringement they see a noticeable bump in business across the back containing expletives.” and unfair business competition. SARAH DONALDSON/COLUMBUS DISPATCH when the convention center hosts an Citing screenshots of several negative event. Local business owners, howev- Yelp reviews Ohio City BBQ received, the land, including in the trendy neighbor- we do good in our barbeque,” Singh said. er, stress they are not yet back to nor- complaint alleges that “customers have hood of Ohio City. “Now I’ve got this new obstacle to go mal. continued to recognize the superiority of Singh opened Ohio City BBQ in 2018. through.” Tourism contributes $7.6 billion to City Barbeque” and that Ohio City BBQ is He said he settled on the name because City Barbeque CEO Rick Malir said he central Ohio’s economy yearly and sup- purposefully trying to deceive custom- other restaurants and retailers around respects smaller companies, especially ports 78,600 jobs, according to Experi- ers. him were called some variation of “Ohio in the barbecue industry. ence Columbus. While those numbers According to the lawsuit, City Bar- City” plus what they offered — whether it “However, we have spent the past 21 aren’t broken down for individual in- beque seeks relief from Ohio City BBQ be pasta, pizza or paint. years building our company’s name and dustries or specific attractions, there is and for it to be barred from using its cur- “There’s Ohio City everything,” Singh reputation, so it is imperative to protect no doubt the hundreds of thousands of rent name. said in an interview. “There’s a lot of our trademark,” Malir wrote in an email people who attend events at the con- Founded in 1999 in Columbus, City pride in the area, you know what I mean? to The Dispatch. “There is confusion in vention contribute to the profits of Barbeque has more than 50 locations, We’re barbecue, so I thought Ohio City the marketplace between our two com- nearby businesses. with nearly half of them in Ohio. BBQ would be a nice, simple name.” panies and it would be beneficial for both The Short North looked almost Both Cleveland-area storefronts Singh said he hadn’t heard of City Bar- of us to have a clearer distinction in abandoned during a two-month lock- opened after Ohio City BBQ launched its beque until after Ohio City BBQ opened names.” down last spring, business owners and business, with the Beechwood location its doors and he began receiving letters Malir added that he offered to finan- residents said. opening in 2019 and the Strongsville lo- from City Barbeque. cially assist Ohio City BBQ with a change Customers gradually returned when cation in 2020. After a challenging year for business of name and hopes to see the business Gov. Mike DeWine let restaurants re- Nav Singh, Ohio City BBQ owner, said because of the pandemic, Singh said he succeed. Ohio City BBQ has yet to file a open, but shop owners said the result- he moved from Toronto to Northeast felt like he was finally seeing the light at response to the legal complaint. ing traffic couldn’t replace the sales Ohio in 2018 to be part of broader eco- the end of the tunnel. [email protected] they see during conventions. nomic development happening in Cleve- “We’ve been getting good reviews and @SarahEDon Recent events at the venue are large- ly limited to participants and a small number of spectators, but that still translates into customers, local entre- preneurs said. work day. why it’s important to support local res- “I don’t have a number, but I would Restaurant “The cocktails were unbelievable,” he taurants. say every time there is a convention, said. “I would categorize them as artisan A Cameron Mitchell spokesperson there are people that come down to the Continued from Page 17A cocktails. They were prepared literally declined to comment on the closure be- gallery,” said Sharon Weiss, who owns right in front of you with all the splendor yond a short statement that confirmed the Sharon Weiss Gallery in the Short Customers say M had the whole that you can imagine. That was really a it was shuttered and thanked longtime North. package for a special night out nice treat.” customers. The majority of event participants Dodd didn’t consider himself a regu- As far as the culprit behind the per- come from out of town and are curious Known for the elegance of its impec- lar, but said he patronized M at least manent closure, the coronavirus pan- about Ohio’s capital city, she said. cably decorated interior, an extensive once a month. The servers always re- demic is the prime suspect. The restaurants and bars within wine list and a decadent menu of craft member his preferred cocktail, he said, The pandemic-related economic walking distance of the convention cocktails, M was counted among cen- and asked if he wanted the sliders, his downturn devastated the restaurant center are often the biggest beneficia- tral Ohio’s most recognized and cele- favorite item from the food menu. industry, and eateries that focus on ries. brated restaurants. Foodies and food “That not only made me feel like a val- pampering customers with a satisfying “Any time there is an increased vol- critics alike raved about the delicately ued customer, but a friend,” he said. in-person experience were especially ume of people in the area, we get busi- prepared cuisine and the fine cocktails. Rebecca Macke, 42, of Granville, said hard hit, experts said. ness from it,” said Jason Biundo, co- “Not a lot of restaurants that have she patronized M for dinner three times, “When people think of those fine din- owner of pizza chain Late Night Slice, that total package of great food, ser- and especially remembers ordering the ing restaurants, they don’t think about which has a restaurant and bar right vice, wine, cocktails and the space it- steak. carryout,” said Kendall Goodrich, chair across the street from the convention self,” Dehlavi said. “I thought it was actually one of the of the marketing department at Wright center. The swanky dinner destination was best steaks I’ve ever had, and I’ve been to State University. “If there’s 5,000 people in a week- tucked away in a corner of Downtown almost all the steakhouses in Colum- Customers worried about coronavi- end, that’s 5,000 potential visitors to Columbus on the banks of the Scioto bus,” she said. rus infection ordered carryout in greater Barley’s and the surrounding business- River, providing a picturesque view of The upscale restaurant featured a numbers and turned to delivery ser- es,” said Jason Fabien, general manager the downtown skyline and the Scioto menu on the expensive side, with en- vices, eschewing the places that invest for Barley’s Brewing Co., which is right Mile. trees that cost upwards of $60. The hap- in a memorable in-person experience. across the street from the convention It was an ideal spot for special occa- py hour prices made the restaurant a While some independent restaurants center. sions, said Tony Meredith, 62, of the more affordable destination for those switched gears with little effort, it Most of the events held at the con- Short North, who said he went there who weren’t looking to spend that much wasn’t so easy for the upscale restau- vention center now take place on the several times a year for birthdays and money, Macke said. rants with rigorous server training and weekends, and Barley’s sees at least other celebrations. “They had $5 deluxe cocktails,” she quality ingredients, Goodrich said. 50% more business during those occa- “When you wanted to spoil yourself, said. “It was a good price.” sions, Fabien said. that’s one of the places you would go,” But Macke will also miss the atmos- ‘Isolated’ location a draw he said. phere. and a drawback The city’s celebrities and politicians “It was very chic, very upscale,” she were known to frequent M, and regular said. “It was a beautiful restaurant.” Regular customers suspect the loca- customers remember seeing central Dehlavi said her position at M was tion also contributed to M’s demise. Ohio icons like the late John Glenn. “the most incredible job I’ve ever had in The restaurant was off the beaten Longtime Columbus Dispatch food my life.” path at the end of Miranova Place, far critic Doral Chenoweth described the “The staff was such a tight family from other bars and restaurants Down- restaurant’s 2001 grand opening as a unit,” she said. “The guests and regulars town or in nearby German Village, and it monumental occasion on par with the were an extension of that. They weren’t was a solid hike from the office buildings arrival of the Columbus Blue Jackets, just customers in a restaurant, they were that surround the Ohio Statehouse. who played their inaugural season a our family as well. That I think is the “One of the things that always both- year earlier. hardest part, that we are not all going to ered me was the location,” said Mila Clo- be together again.” ran, 46, of Hilliard. “If we planned a nice Cocktails and steaks Dehlavi eventually found another job, night with friends in town, it was so iso- among diners’ favorites which she enjoys, but said nothing com- lated.” pares to M. Her group had to drive or take an Ub- Longtime customers and former em- er if they wanted to a night cap at anoth- ployees — who learned the news along Was pandemic responsible er bar or restaurant, Cloran said. with the general public — mourned the for M’s demise? For Meredith, however, the location loss of the treasured institution. was part of the appeal. He remembers Gregg Dodd, 51, of Victorian Village, Kari Kauffman, vice president of des- sitting on the patio and enjoying the Stephanie Tersigni, owner of Jolie remembers seeing a news alert about tination experience for Experience Co- view of the Scioto River. Occasions, says the foot traffic in the the closure while he was working. lumbus, said M was one of the restau- “It was a nice secluded area, away Short North drew her to put her “I literally said aloud, ‘Oh no, this is rants that put the Columbus dining from the main streets, and it was right boutique there. It’s trickling back as terrible,’ “ he said. scene on the map. along the river,” he said. “It has a nice activity ramps up at the nearby Dodd described occasionally enjoy- “It was such a destination,” she said. atmosphere.” convention center. COURTNEY ing cocktails with friends and co-work- Kauffman hopes central Ohioans will [email protected] HERGESHEIMER/COLUMBUS DISPATCH ers at M when they wrapped up their read about the closure and understand @PatrickACooley