Center Square to Transform 33,000-Square-Foot Warehouse into Unique Community Event and Entertainment Center called the Kee.
COLUMBUS, OHIO (October XX, 2021)—
Center Square, a New York company specializing in community event and entertainment centers, announced today that it has leased a 33,000-square-foot building at 225 Neilston Street. The company plans to transform the large vintage warehouse, located in the historic Warehouse District on the northeast side of downtown, into a unique 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’s Managing Director, Clayton Davis, and Associate, Alex Ashworth, represented both landlord and tenant in the transaction.
“We’ll be programming our own events at the venue, like concerts and comedy shows. We’ll host fitness classes, art exhibits and marketplaces, like farmer’s markets. We’ll rent space and offer an on-site catering option for private parties, weddings and corporate events. We’ll also offer an array of recreational activities like duckpin bowling, giant Jenga, sports simulators, pool, ping pong and more—alongside delicious food and drink, from our all-day café, craft-cocktail and juice bar,” said Adam Nestler, co-founder of Center Square.
According to Nestler, the company selected Columbus as The Kee’s location, because of its consistently healthy growth rate and 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.
“We love the authentic, artistic vibe of the neighborhood, and we’re excited about all the development that’s coming,” said Nestler.
Philip Hackman, who oversees Asset Management in Hackman Capital’s Columbus office, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome The Kee to the Columbus Warehouse District. The innovative concept is a testament to our vision of the neighborhood as a vital urban hub attracting creative-thinking businesses of all kinds. The Kee will definitely create buzz and draw people from all over the city for the all-in-one experience it will offer.”
According to Clayton Davis, the lease aligns with the nation’s continuously growing retail market, which posted a 0.7% 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,” David 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.
About Center Square
Center Square adapts retail anchors, industrial warehouses and end-cap boxes into indoor/outdoor hubs bursting with community and cultural events, local culinary delights and recreational activities.
About The Columbus Warehouse District
Established in 1834, The Columbus Warehouse District is situated in the northeast quadrant of downtown Columbus. It is minutes from the city’s major highways and blocks from the Arena District, Short North, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus State Community College and other landmark sites.
Committed to revitalizing the district, Hackman Capital Partners is transforming 11 historic buildings, totaling more than 400,000 square feet, into creative commercial spaces. The redevelopment will continue to preserve the buildings’ rich architectural history and feature irreplaceable keepsakes, such as high bow-trussed ceilings, tall mullioned windows, exposed brick walls and ornamental columns.
A combination of significant investment dollars, visionary thinking and an already vibrant neighborhood poises The Columbus Warehouse District to become a burgeoning urban hub—and a magnet for new businesses, restaurants and retail shops.
About Hackman Capital Partners
Hackman Capital Partners is a privately-held, real-estate investment and operating company—and an early pioneer of transforming vintage industrial properties into creative office campuses. Founded in 1986, the company has owned, through affiliated entities, more than 400 buildings, totaling 35 million square feet, across 41 states.
With ties to Columbus, the Hackman family’s hometown, the company entered the central Ohio market in 2013. Over the next several years, it amassed an approximate 5.6-million-square-foot industrial portfolio of more than 75 buildings in Ohio, including 3,500,000-plus square feet in Columbus.
Hackman Capital Partners turned to the historic properties in the Columbus Warehouse District in 2018, with an initial purchase of eight office buildings and five parking lots. The company has since expanded its footprint in the district, with now a total of 11 buildings and six parking lots.
Hackman Capital Partners continues to focus on vintage industrial and commercial real estate, in addition to film and televisions studios in mature markets. Its current portfolio represents over $8.5 billion.
The company is based in Los Angeles. Its Columbus office is located in the Warehouse District. For more information, visit hackmancapital.com.
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 92,000 as of June 30, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.