New plans for Downtown and the visionaries making Columbus cool await you in the Spring issue of ‘Refined’

Nicci Hicks, owner of Pivot Boutique, with a bouquet from Sweet Blossom Floral. Photo by Emma Mortellaro.

This issue is dedicated to our city’s revival – to the creators, artists, and entrepreneurs who are infusing our streets and spaces with a fresh energy and vision.

The seeds for this renewal were planted (and planned) years ago by Jeff Edwards, and today, our Downtown is starting to blossom. Edwards’ vision for Columbus will take nearly a decade to fully materialize, but already, the first signs of change are budding everywhere: scaffolding disappearing from a construction site on Gay and High, revealing a striking new art gallery; a once-vacant storefront glowing with new purpose as an independent boutique; chairs scraping against sidewalks as Hank’s and Chouette arrange their patios in anticipation of warmer days.

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What makes Jeff Edwards’ vision so compelling – and what you’ll read about in the pages ahead – is his optimism for the city’s future. He’s all-in on a Columbus we have yet to experience, one rich with culture, inclusivity, and urban connectivity. As he invests in this new era of Downtown, he is, in many ways, investing in all of us.

And he is not alone. We’re thrilled to feature Nicci Hicks of Pivot, who left behind a corporate career to follow her dreams of building a Black-owned brand rooted in sustainability. Alexandria Ottney channels the very essence of spring through her colorful, high-art floral arrangements, while Glenn Gustafson of ZenEarth Pottery embraces the art of renewal, giving broken pieces a new purpose. The team behind The Citizens Trust has transformed an abandoned bank into an elegant cocktail lounge, and Joe Galati, the visionary behind Comune, creates seasonal dishes that elevate local ingredients. Caitlin and Dan of Copia Farms are the ones ensuring our restaurants and tables are filled with exceptional, regenerative produce and protein, using what the earth has already provided to create a bounty. Meanwhile, Michelle Brandt’s latest exhibition at Pecha Project reminds us that after destruction, there is always the promise of something even more magnificent.