400 West Rich

Love, love, love this building! I think it’s so cool. I volunteered here years ago when it was a warehouse and got to tour it a few years ago as they were renovating it into artist studios, before Strongwater was put in. What a neat place for creatives to gather and make a name for Columbus. We all benefit from that. And how awesome is it that there is a trapeze school inside of it? Recently bought some art over the weekend here while enjoying Independent’s Fest. Truly unique and a great view of the Cbus skyline! Looking forward to checking out the winter’s farmers market and Dinin’ Hall.

Where do you go to find music, arts and fresh food in Columbus? 400 West Rich! I first visited for their farmer’s market, but have since gone back time and time again for various events.
This old factory is ripe with creativity. Its the place to meet and mingle with artists, farmers, performers, entrepreneurs and culture enthusiasts. The Columbus community is lucky to have them! You can participate in aerial classes held here (yep), peruse the local art in the hundreds of studios, or grab a beer with friends at the brewery. I know! isn’t it awesome?
Everyone should visit 400 West Rich to connect to and support the Columbus community.

I stopped in for the final winter’s farmer market. There were pies, cookies, breads, seafood, and chocolate. It was a small selection of vendors and no food truck. All of this was said to be unusual by the vendors who where there.
Someone was manning an art table which was very popular with the under 8 crowd and was a pleasant way to break up the day.
I look forward to coming back for more events.

I like this space. I liked it when Independent’s Day was here. I like checking out the artists’ studios and going to events. It’s a little grungy-​industrial and that’s awesome.
We did get kicked out of the upstairs during Independent’s Day because it was left unsecure and we didn’t know we weren’t supposed to be up there (especially since there were still signs inviting us up there); because of that and what I’m going to discuss below, I do feel like their staff could have their shit together just a tiny bit more.
The winter farmers’ market left me perplexed. I saw very few vendors, very little signage up to direct you to any other vendors that might be there. .. the interior space is a bit maze-​like, so who knows if we missed half the market? There were about three vendors that I would really consider «farm» vendors and a handful of arts and crafts vendors, which was a huge letdown. I would have called it an «artists’ market» instead of a «farmers’ market», though the number of vendors we were able to find didn’t really make it much of a market at all.
Would totally go to a party here, though I don’t know if I’ll go to other «farmers’» markets here, unless they’re organized better.

Hipster Heaven is what i thought when I walked around this place. I liked the feel of the place even though it was a pretty empty winter day here. I like the idea and if I was crafty or more into these homemade projects then i might like it even more. It is a wonderful place to walk around and explore. I do want to go back in the summer when more of the shops are open. Come walk around and then grab some food from a food truck outside.
My favorite thing about this place is the freedom to just wander around without worry of being yelled at. Cool place with a laid back feel. Parking is free as well which makes it even better.

Cool place. I was here for a Columbus Soup event (awesome concept, check it out:
) and it worked perfectly. Exposed brick, concrete floors and high ceilings with lots of natural lighting make it a great «whitespace» for any event that you’re looking to host.

This really is a cool and unique space. They have everything from farmer’s markets, to live music festivals, to food truck gatherings in addition to the Dinin’ Hall that happens here. My band has played some parties here, festivals, etc, and it seems like every time I come we find a new and interesting part of the building or outdoor space that we never knew about.
I can’t help but think that somehow the city is going to take a look at this place and deem it unsafe or whatever they do and shut it down. I hope this doesn’t happen.

I dunno. I just go to parties here. It’s cold, fairly dirty, old, and undergoing constant renovations so I doubt it’s for everyone, but they are definitely doing good work for the neighborhood, no questioning that. Probably my favorite thing about 400 W Rich is that, due to not serving alcohol, I can party here all night. I don’t think I’ve been to an event where I left earlier than 4am.
Now, I’ve argued before that Columbus doesn’t really need any more of these artist spaces, particularly regarding the now-​failed project Wonderland. I’d be interested to see some sort of figures on how many artists left Milo to go to Junctionview, or left JV to come to Rich, etc. Maybe the answer isn’t many at all, but when was the last time you heard about something happening at Milo? Things — parties, shows, the same things happening at Rich, used to happen there.
I’m still not convinced the city can support all of them. Pecha Kucha was at Junctionview for over a year. Yet the last one was at 400 W Rich. I’m not involved enough in the Columbus art scene to know whether that move was permanent or not, but still… hopefully you see the picture.
Regarding the Wonderland project, I used to say «yeah, that’s exactly what the Short North needs, more galleries, studios, lofts, and restaurants.» I would say «if you’re going to start a project like that, at least do it in a neighborhood that actually needs that redevelopment, like Franklinton, King-​Lincoln, or Linden.» Well, kudos to Chris and crew for doing just that.
That said, I am against the development of any new loft spaces. There should be no new construction when there are solid structures waiting to be redeveloped just around the corner, and in this area, there are plenty. Considering 400 W Rich’s endeavors so far, I think they will make the right call on that. With some more improvements, both to the building and events, I’d bump this to a four.
And before you go writing me compliments that say «hey dude, Wonderland was gonna be in Italian Village, not Short North» let me just clear up that I am intentionally exhibiting a personal bias against neighborhoods that only cover two city blocks. As far as I’m concerned, Italian Village, Harrison West and Victorian Village are all just a part of the Short North.

This is such an incredibly interesting space. I’ve been here a dozen or so times for different events and I always stop and admire the building. I dream of being able to have a studio space here so I could be a part of everything that’s always going on.

As a multi-​use creative space, 400 W Rich is incredible. I admit that at times it isn’t so much to look at, but you have to consider this is a working studio that is constantly in use for local artists, events, and even the new Dinin’ Hall food truck pod. This is an amazing resource for the local creative community, and deserves all the support it can get!

If any project in the City of Columbus that focuses on community building and the artist community shows momentum and promise, it is 400 W. Rich. It’s a great community of people and the space is versatile and friendly.
I was there last Saturday for their Winter Market, which was a blast. Going on at the same time was a Grilled Cheese contest in another area of the building, plus, Dinin’ Hall was open with food trucks and hospitality. Have you ever been to a farm market with produce, cottage foods, art, and antiques, plus Trapeze lessons, and a childrens’ hiphop/​break dancing exhibition?!
Oh? You haven’t? Well then you haven’t been to 400 W. Rich. Things are happening here and it is AWESOME!

Fantastic concept. Wonderful Events. Looking forward to the farmers market and grilled cheese!

What a great little development and an interesting group of tenants. It was just what we were looking for to compliment our downtown apartment living. An interesting place to work and have our tools/​equipment, at a reasonable price. Also lots going on all the time, so you have a sense of being part of something new and exciting. It will interesting to see how the new «Dinin’ Hall» lunch-​time food truck project work, and how it changes the place.

Great space, versatile and interesting. I’ve been to several events here, including Pecha Kucha, a haunted house, and a concert. Really great to have this venue available for such events. However, I did accidentally get locked in the wrong part of the building at PK and have to break the door down. Oh well, that’s part of the adventure of exploring 400 W Rich. And this place is getting constant improvements! Now it has walls from Urban Scrawl installed inside! Awesome!

400 West Rich offers space for artists to work and play in East Franklinton. This artist community is an amazing array of art studios in an old warehouse space in Franklinton, a down and out but very hip part of Columbus. I went to the open house today and was super impressed. Really affordable space for artists of any scale, a gallery space, an amazing secure courtyard/​parking lot, this space has it all. Look for this space to become the premier independent arts space in the city.