In this blog, all photos were taken by Matthew Garsky (@matthewgarsky).
Only a few weeks ago, we announced huge news for Budd Dairy: a full blown partnership between Cameron Mitchell and Lykens Companies. This winter, Budd Dairy Food Hall will present the Short North with an eclectic collection of 8-10 restaurants, 3 full service bars, and a coffee shop. We’re privileged to build upon Columbus’s world-class restaurant landscape alongside Cameron Mitchell, our renowned and experienced partner.
But what else? Budd Dairy is big. If you’ve ever driven by the old factory, you’re well aware of the building’s breadth. So what will Lykens do with all that extra space? Let’s explore two of the spaces we’re restoring.
The Ice Production Space
On the first level of Budd Dairy, there lies a former ice production space. It was in this area that dairy products would be cooled and kept fresh between bottling and shipment. At Lykens Companies, we value historical renovations and want buildings to continue to tell their story. It’s no different here. We are transforming this space in a way that announces its history to everyone who steps foot in it.
Upon entrance of the first floor, visitors will see its restored boiler, original pillars, and preserved brick walls. We opened windows that were previously boarded over so natural light can reach all parts of Budd Dairy. We know this is going to be special. We’re transforming this former ice production space into a state-of-the-art 12,000 square foot coworking office. This industrial-styled area will feature all the amenities needed for any office worker. We’re anticipating that this entrepreneurial environment will be filled with everyone from ambitious young professionals to veteran businessmen and women. Like Cameron Mitchell’s fusion of restaurants, we’re hoping that our coworking space brings different people, different cultures, and different ideas together. For a fixed fee, workers will have access to Budd Dairy and all its amenities. Here is the breakdown of what we’ll offer for desks, offices, and memberships:
- 1-2 desk suites in 12 to 14 offices
- 3-4 desk suites in 10 to 12 offices
- 4-6 desk suites in 3 to 5 offices
- Shared Desk Memberships: 40 to 50 spaces available
- Dedicated Desk Membership: 15 spaces available
While we don’t have a finished product, we’re happy to share progress of the construction. Let your imagination run wild on how this incredible renovation will turn out.
The Stables
By 1914, William Hooper Budd, then owner of Budd Dairy Co., claimed to have the first and only sanitary refrigerated milk wagon. At that point, Budd Dairy Co. was the largest exclusive retail milk business in Ohio. East of the window wrapped bottling area where Budd Dairy Food Hall will sit, the Budd Dairy factory featured a number of stables and rooms for storage. We can imagine evenings when William Budd walked back to the stables after a long day’s work and admired his revolutionary milk wagon. Like the rest of Budd Dairy, the space still retains its industrial personality. As usual, Lykens Companies sees an opportunity to give this forgotten area a new life. We’ve got a great idea for what to do with this 25,000 square feet of space.
Like our ice production space, the rear stables will undergo high-quality renovations and remodeling, but will offer a traditional approach in its layout and accessibility. In these private office spaces, businesses will still have an opportunity to be inside the hub of Italian Village’s hottest area; they’ll just experience the exclusivity necessary for some office cultures. We’re confident that we are creating offices unlike any other in the world.
And maybe the best part? The Budd Dairy Food Hall for your lunch break.
Be sure to keep tabs on the Budd Dairy project and read about our other renovations! We’re thrilled to help Columbus keep growing!
