Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR), one of the leading restaurant companies in Columbus, Ohio, has opened Budd Dairy Food Hall, Columbus’ first-ever venue for restaurant incubation, culinary exploration and entertainment. The food hall, located in the historic Budd Dairy building, will give the city’s top up-and-coming chefs the opportunity to grow as entrepreneurs and to serve their community in a unique gathering space.
Located in the city’s Italian Village neighborhood, the food hall will provide guests with the opportunity to choose among multiple chef partner kitchens, to grab a beverage from one of three bars, and to enjoy them in flexible, on-trend spaces with plenty of local entertainment. In addition to the main hall, Budd Dairy features a second floor event space and rooftop bar and patio.
Budd Dairy will have nine chef-driven restaurant concepts and an ever-changing pop-up space called Hatch. It will position the new restaurateurs to develop and grow with resources from the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants team and with the support of the Columbus community.
The food hall is designed to be a one-of-a-kind gathering spot for the entire community. Keeping associates and guests safe is a top priority. Budd Dairy Food Hall (BDFH) is outfitted with the iWave Air Purification System, which removes 99.4 percent of pathogens, allergens and other particles, including COVID-19, from the air. In addition, social distancing will be observed and mask wearing will be required when not seated. Food and drinks can be ordered via phone by scanning a QR code to eliminate lines, and plexiglass barriers are located throughout the space.
“We are thrilled to finally be able to introduce Columbus residents and visitors to our first food hall concept,” says Jeremy Hughes, GM of Budd Dairy Food Hall. “Given the times, providing an incubator-like space to local chefs will help support and grow our restaurant community as they recover from pandemic-related-business challenges. We also feel that food halls and pop ups like Hatch are trends that continue to grow.”
Buddy Dairy History
Budd Dairy’s name hails from its origins as a milk delivery plant, started by Simon T. Budd in 1894 and moved to the Italian Village location by his son, Simon Budd, in 1916. It was dubbed “America’s finest milk bottling plant.” At that time, the dairy company had the most modern features of a milk processing plant. In 1927, Budd Dairy became the first company in the United States to use electric vehicles for milk delivery. In 1928, William H. Budd sold the Budd Dairy Company to Hamilton Milk Co. of Columbus, Ohio. At the time, it was a subsidiary of Borden Dairy Co., a national company. Borden Dairy Company bought out Hamilton Milk Co. and Borden processed in, and delivered milk from, the building from 1934 until 1967. The building then remained vacant for many years. In restoring the building, Cameron Mitchell and his development team wanted to use as much of the original materials as possible. Visitors to the food hall will see original tiles, wood, brick and terra cotta detail.
“We were thrilled to be able to restore this historic building and return the crown jewel of the Italian Village’s 4th Street to prominence. We hope that Budd Dairy Food Hall becomes a destination for both residents and visitors,” says Steve Weis, SVP of Development for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.
BDFH Chef Partners
Alphabetical Comfort Kitchen: Everything about Alphabetical Comfort Kitchen, from the bright color-scheme to creative puns for dishes, is distinctive. That was the vision owner Jordan Lamatrice had when he created the concept, featuring sandwiches, salads, soups and sides with unique twists.
Boni: Filipino Street Food: Boni introduces contemporary Filipino street food to Columbus through collaboration, passion and authenticity. Growing up in a small Filipino community, owner Krizzia Yanga is determined to replicate the family-focused experience for every guest. The restaurant has three main offerings including rice bowls topped with delicious, sautéed meats and veggies, fried spring rolls filled with traditional Filipino flavors and sweet and tangy grilled skewers.
Borgata: Borgata is a family-run New York-style pizzeria, dedicated to providing delicious and fresh pizza made from the highest quality local and regional ingredients available. The concept is co-owned by Ed Bisconti and Roz Auddino, who share a passion for food, both having served over 35+ years in the industry. Their menu at Budd Dairy will feature pizza, spicy sausage-stuffed peppers, meatballs, chicken wings and house salad.
Cousins Maine Lobster: Cousins Maine Lobster brings customers an authentic Maine seafood experience and proudly serves 100 percent premium, wild-caught, sustainably harvested lobster from Maine. Kathryn Nuss brought the concept to Columbus by food truck in 2018 after learning of the brand on the popular show, Shark Tank, and it quickly established a loyal following around the city.
Cluck Norris: Cluck Norris offers guests quality, fresh, flavor-packed chicken favorites. Josh Yosick is the man behind the chicken. The menu will feature flavorful, crispy chicken and sides that will satisfy any craving. The menu boasts chicken fingers, hand-battered and dipped to order, served with a choice of sauce. In addition, guests can choose between several handheld crispy chicken sandwich options and a Pig Tenderloin sandwich.
Modern Southern Table: Modern Southern Table is a southern comfort food concept offering fried chicken, gumbo, mac and cheese and other southern classics. The journey for the concept began in the food court of Colony Square Mall in Zanesville, OH after Modern Southern Table owner Sadaya “Daisy” Lewis won the Food Network’s “Food Court Wars” in March 2014.
Pokebap: Pokebap is a chef-driven, fast-casual, create-your-own concept. Its limitless combinations of fresh, high-quality ingredients and signature scratch-made sauces create the perfect poké bowl that can accommodate every palate and all dietary needs. Owner Seas Kim’s culinary experiences from Hawaii, along with his Korean-American background, inspired him to bring the Hawaiian staple to Ohio.
Stauf’s: Stauf’s has been offering specialty coffee, pastries and teas to central Ohio since 1988. Under the leadership of Mark Swanson, the Stauf’s team is determined to provide the finest cup of coffee. From acquiring specialty grade green arabica beans to roasting exclusively on gas-fired drum roasters, all coffees offered are roasted locally by hand every day.
Tacos Rudos: Inspired by a true love of Mexican Street Fairs, Tacos Rudos’ chef-driven menu contains a balance of comfort and innovation all served on a house-made tortilla. Team leader Ana Cruz understands what gives Mexican street food its authenticity and her team is excited to bring their favorite flavors to Columbus.
Hatch: Hatch is a kitchen in Budd Dairy Food Hall featuring a rotating series of select chefs, giving them the opportunity to test new recipes and concepts, show off their passion and vision and increase awareness to spur future growth. The first restaurateur to occupy Hatch is The Cheesecake Girl. In 2017, founder Samantha Strange had a simple goal: to make high-quality, from-scratch cheesecakes using locally sourced ingredients with a focus on comfort and nostalgia. Four years and several farmers markets and weddings later, The Cheesecake Girl now has a full bakery in Hilliard, OH a location coming to Dublin, OH and the team is thrilled to have the opportunity to now serve guests in Italian Village.
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