Center Square, a New York company specializing in community event and entertainment centers, has leased a 33,000-square-foot building at 225 Neilston St. in Columbus, Ohio. The company plans to transform the large vintage warehouse, located in the historic Warehouse District on the northeast side of downtown Columbus, into a destination called The Kee.
Coming off the founders’ success of its Radio Social venue in Rochester, The Kee will combine the concept of a community center with an indoor-outdoor event venue, plus the addition of a restaurant, bar and unique line-up of recreational-style games.
The building was leased from Hackman Capital Partners, which owns, through affiliated entities, a majority of the real estate—11 office buildings and six parking lots—in the Columbus Warehouse District. JLL Managing Director Clayton Davis and Associate Alex Ashworth represented both landlord and tenant in the transaction.
The company selected Columbus as The Kee’s location because of its consistently healthy growth rate. The company chose the Columbus Warehouse District, in particular, because of its creative energy and rich, historic character, as well as its proximity to the Short North and the Arena District.
According to Davis, the lease aligns with the nation’s continuously growing retail market, which posted a 0.7 percent increase in August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s monthly retail trade report.
“There’s nothing like The Kee in the Columbus area, and we’re pleased to help bring this modern-day community space to the Warehouse District,” Davis said. “We’re also looking forward to the upcoming development of this historic neighborhood. With retail numbers on the rise, we see this new space playing a significant role in the area’s growth.”
The Kee anticipates opening its doors in July of 2022.
