Massive Near East Side marketplace and food hall announces long-awaited opening date

After much anticipation, the East Market has announced its official opening date. It will hold a grand opening celebration on April 30.

Part of the Near East Side’s Trolley District development, the 30,000 square foot marketplace will feature 13 total food vendors (including The Butcher & Grocer, The Pitt BBQ Grille, Yellow Brick Pizza and many more) in addition to two original bar concepts and a second-floor event space.

The East Market is located at 212 Kelton Ave., on a historic site that formerly served as a repair hub for the city’s trolley cars. The concept, which has been several years in the making, was forced to push its initial opening date back due to COVID-related complications.

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According to East Market Director of Operations and Leasing Aubrey Stevens, the anticipated East Side spot will hold a festive grand opening event that will run from 11 a.m. until midnight on April 30.

“We are proud to showcase the many months of work that went into the market, it has been a labor of love,” Stevens said. “All of our amazing vendor are ready to show-off their skills in the kitchen. We can’t wait for the public to sample all that we have to offer.”

According to Janvier Ward, co-owner of East Market concepts Creole 2 Geaux and the NOLA Daq Shack, the opening represents a flurry of opportunity for many budding restaurants.

“This has been such an awesome experience, and we’re so excited to finally open,” Ward said. “Even with the waiting, we’ve been able to build a larger following and get the roots of what it’s going to be like having our own brick and mortar.”

The grand opening celebration will also include a face-painting and balloon-making station for children, magician Carol Baker, animals from The Columbus Zoo and even a live broadcast of the day from CD 92.5.

In addition to the East Market, there’s more in store for the Near East Side of Columbus. The East Market is part of the larger Trolley District development, a project from Connect Realty which will bring additional food and drink concepts and an apartment building to the area.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new April issue here!

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