COLUMBUS, Ohio— Experience Columbus, the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region dedicated to growing visitor spending and enhancing the visitor experience, held a ribbon-cutting today to kick off the three-day grand opening of the new Columbus Welcome Center. Located at 625 N. High St. in the Short North Arts District, the Columbus Welcome Center will serve as a community gathering spot, a place for visitors and residents to get information about the Columbus region, purchase souvenirs, enjoy various activations and pop-ups and a location where Experience Columbus will record its yes, Columbus podcast. 
 
Community leaders including Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, Experience Columbus President and CEO Brian Ross, The Pizzuti Companies President & CEO Joel Pizzuti, and Short North Alliance President & CEO Betsy Pandora participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.  

Through a partnership with The Pizzuti Companies and located within The Offices at The Joseph, the storefront occupies part of the former Anthropologie space and marks the final stage of Experience Columbus’ relocation from the Arena District. The new location places Experience Columbus, which is celebrating its 85th anniversary on February 11, in the heart of one of Columbus’ most vibrant entertainment districts, close to the Greater Columbus Convention Center and still near the Arena District. 

“As the 15th largest city in the country and a community that welcomes visitors who make more than 53 million trips to Greater Columbus each year, we are thrilled to have this new space for both visitors and residents,” said Ross. “We invite the entire community to come out this weekend and stop by during Gallery Hop. This new hub makes discovering Columbus easy with engaging pop-up experiences, tech-forward tools and friendly and knowledgeable destination specialists.” 


Grand Opening Celebration 

The three-day celebration features live music, coffee and light bites, exclusive giveaways from local partners while supplies last during the following times:  

  • Thursday, Feb. 5 | 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 

  • Friday, Feb. 6 | 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 

  • Saturday, Feb. 7 | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. (extended hours for Gallery Hop) 
     

Art-Driven, Sustainable & Accessible Interior Design 

The Columbus Welcome Center was designed in partnership with Short North-based experiential design, visual merchandising and event company ZenGenius. Local art and thoughtfully selected materials define the Columbus Welcome Center experience. Two large-scale murals by Columbus-based artist Carly Mitchell of C. E. Mitchell Design anchor the space and provide standout photo moments of key local landmarks, including the Scioto Mile, LeVeque Tower and more. Another piece of wooden artwork pays tribute to the city’s distinctive architecture. Complementing the murals are warm, inviting finishes, along with reclaimed wood features and a living moss installation.  


Local-First Retail Experience 

The retail zone offers a curated selection of Columbus-inspired gifts and keepsakes, perfect for friends, family, babies and even pets. Merchandise showcases artwork by Central Ohio–based illustrator Fiona Miller, brought to life in wearable designs. Experience Columbus also collaborated with local vendors to produce and source items for purchase, including Columbus-themed apparel and CBUS Soul® merchandise. 


Podcast Studio & Visitor Resources 

The Columbus Welcome Center features a dedicated resource zone with Experience Columbus’ annual Columbus Visitor Guide. Soon, visitors and residents will be able to access new, expanded virtual assistant chatbot offerings in partnership with Satis Fi Labs and TrueOmni, providing customized guidance through an Aviator to help make the most of their time in Columbus. Guests can also stop by to redeem and pick up prizes from Experience Columbus’ free experiential trails, including the new Columbus Booklovers Trail, Columbus Coffee Trail and Columbus-Style Pizza Trail.  
 
The Columbus Welcome Center also houses a built-in podcast studio, home to the award-winning yes, Columbus podcast, presented in partnership with iHeartRadio. The podcast shares inspiring stories, interviews and the latest happenings in the city. While visiting the Columbus Welcome Center, guests can watch live recordings and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Columbus stories reach national audiences. 
 
To learn more about the new Columbus Welcome Center, visit  experiencecolumbus.com/explorecolumbus/visitorcenter or stop by in person. The center is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

 
About Experience Columbus 
Celebrating 85 years in 2026, Experience Columbus is the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region dedicated to growing visitor spending and enhancing the visitor experience. Annually, visitors make 53.2 million trips to Greater Columbus for conventions, trade shows, sporting events and leisure visits, spending $8.2 billion and supporting more than 82,500 jobs. For more information, visit ExperienceColumbus.com.  
 

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Media Contacts:
Leah Berger, APR, ECI: lberger@experiencecolumbus.com | 614-222-6145
Cameron Walker, ECI: cwalker@experiencecolumbus.com | 614-222-6146