A chunk of downtown Columbus is about to change a lot. Specifically, the area near the intersection of Catfish Alley and Main Street.
Here’s the rundown:
Construction work is going on at the old Varsity Twin theater. The defunct theater was purchased by Hope Community Church in early 2012 for $180,000. The church hopes to eventually call it home. But the building — originally an early 20th century opera house that burned and was rebuilt during the 1970s — sat dormant after the purchase.
Recently, however, the downtown historic commission approved some renovation plans. Then the city issued work permits.
The work going on now — mainly exterior renovations — is the first phase of a multi-phase project the church is cranking up.
Moving a little west, the Gilmer Inn is in the process of being gutted. The city has purchased the aging property for $425,000 and took formal ownership Tuesday. The plan: Tear it down. Most metal railings have been removed, furniture from the inn’s 75 rooms is being tossed, the property is roped off with yellow tape.
The old, vacant Brumley Sporting Goods store sits beside the Gilmer Inn. The city on Tuesday agreed to purchase that property for $245,000. (The city will pay $236,500. The Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau will pay $8,500.) The plan: Tear it down.
Next in line, at 404 Main St., is the Elks Club building. On Monday, the CVB voted to purchase that two-story property for $650,000. (The CVB will pay $450,000. The building’s owners donated the remaining $200,000.) The plan: Turn it into a child-focused discovery center.
The building, since August, has been home to WHEREhouse Dance Company.
Kristin Buntin, the studio’s owner, told The Dispatch on Wednesday that the CVB’s purchase was unexpected, but she is already looking for potential new sites to house her business, which has roughly 200 clients.
“We’ll keep trucking,” she said. “The show must go on.”
The CVB’s purchase also included the location of Musselwhite’s Barbershop at the intersection of Third Street North and Main Street. The CVB’s tentative plan for the spot: Make it additional parking.
Zack Musselwhite, a Columbus barber for 16 years, is moving his business into a 1,200 square foot shop he is building near the intersection of Second Avenue North and Third Street North. The plan, he said, is to open there next month.
Lastly, Twisted Burger Company is open for business in Columbus. In fact, they’ve been open about two weeks.
The popular eatery closed its West Point location at 410 E. Main St., saying it hopes to re-open in that town at some point. The Columbus location is at 78 Brickerton St.
Browning on Business is a weekly column that runs each Thursday. We want your input. Send items and tips to [email protected] or [email protected].
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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