Business Archives - The Confluence Cast

Ghost Kitchens and Virtual Brands

by Tim Fulton | Nov 21, 2023 | Business, Episode, Food & Beverage | 0 |

Ordering food on a delivery app? You may not know precisely where your dinner came from.

Columbus Underground Associate Editor Susan Post went down the rabbit hole of ghost kitchens and virtual brands in the restaurant industry.

In today’s episode, we explore the burgeoning scene of ghost kitchens in Columbus, unraveling their advantages, and the complex challenges they bring to the table.

But it’s not all about convenience. We’ll discuss the transparency issues these virtual brands pose, how they can be misleading to customers, and the implications for food origin disclosure.

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation

by Tim Fulton | Feb 22, 2023 | Business, Development, Episode | 0 |

Downtown Columbus has continued to evolve over the last 20 years. That evolution has been more prescriptive than some might know. The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation was created in 2002 to implement the city’s strategic plan for Downtown and it has continued to iterate on the policies and projects that allow the neighborhood to reach its potential. On the occasion of its next strategic plan initiative, the organization’s president, Amy Taylor, discusses the organization’s history, tactics, and why they are pivoting to focus more on people.

Eastland Mall

by Tim Fulton | Jan 30, 2023 | Business, Episode, History, Neighborhoods, People, Politics | 0 |

Eastland Mall, once a thriving hub of retail activity in Columbus, has closed its doors for good. Historian Doug Motz takes a look back at the history of the mall and examines its impact on the local community, the retail industry, and the city as a whole. We also discuss the political fights that have always followed developments in Columbus and the need to look at the plan for the neighborhood now that Eastland is gone.

The Columbus Beer Scene

by Tim Fulton | Jan 12, 2023 | Business, Episode, Food & Beverage, People | 0 |

Sours, IPAs, and stouts, oh my! Dan Whalen, a reporter for Columbus Underground, has quickly become well-versed in the local brewery and beer scene, despite only living in Columbus for two years. We talked about the high quality, diverse selection, and unpretentious atmosphere of the beer scene in Columbus, as well as ways for people to expand their taste preferences and the current trends in the city.

Alternative Transit

by Tim Fulton | Apr 5, 2022 | Business, Civics, Episode, Journalism, Transit | 0 |

How should eScooters, ride-hailing apps, and car-share services be considered in the conversation about alternative transportation? Can we think of them as a public good when they are for-profit entities? This week, Columbus Underground reporter Brent Warren discusses the options for last-mile transit that exist in Columbus, how they came to be, and the motivations and incentives for the companies that get us from point A to point B.

Homeport

by Tim Fulton | Nov 11, 2021 | Business, Civics, Development, Episode, Neighborhoods, Non-Profit, People | 0 |

54,000 households in Central Ohio pay 50% of their income for housing. Homeport, along with other Columbus-based organizations, are working to fix that. This week, Homeport President and CEO Bruce Luecke discusses their work, the growing need for affordable housing in Columbus, and the contributing factors that hamper Columbus’s housing market.

Architecture & Design Firm JBAD

by Tim Fulton | Jun 8, 2021 | Business, Development, Episode, Neighborhoods, People | 0 |

The work of architects has an impact on our lives every day. But how does that work get done? This week, we’re talking architecture and development with the principal of architecture and design firm JBAD, Jonathan Barnes. We discussed how architecture firms work, the importance of relationships, the issues that should be kept in mind as Columbus continues to grow, and whether we’re doing a good job of addressing those issues.

Creative & Marketing Agency treetree

by Tim Fulton | May 13, 2021 | Business, Episode, People | 0 |

How will businesses pivot when things get “back to normal?” Becca Apfelstadt, the co-founder of creative and marketing agency treetree, has a couple of ideas. In this episode, we discuss how the firm got started at a time of change, how they are pivoting in this time of change, and the importance of culture and the role of the office in the impending new normal.

The History of 400 Square

by Tim Fulton | Dec 8, 2020 | Business, Civics, Development, Episode, Neighborhoods, People | 0 |

There’s a rich history in Franklinton. This week, we dive into the origins of 400 West Rich and the larger 400 Square with the curator of their 400 History Show and Mini-Museum, Zach Henkel. We discuss the history of Franklinton, how the building has evolved over time, and what you can experience at the exhibition.

Development in the City of Worthington

by Tim Fulton | Nov 28, 2020 | Business, Civics, Development, Episode, Neighborhoods | 0 |

When it comes to development, the City of Worthington, like many cities with their size and limitations, has to play a balancing act on navigating varying interests. Reporter Brent Warren sat down with the city’s economic development director and assistant city manager, David McCorkle, and Worthington City Manager Matt Greeson to discuss developments coming to Worthington and how they’ve evolved.

Cleve Ricksecker

by Tim Fulton | Nov 20, 2020 | Business, Civics, Development, Episode, Neighborhoods, People, Transit | 0 |

With the threat of protests and the coronavirus raging, what’s going to happen to downtown Columbus? On the occasion of his recent retirement, we spoke with the former executive director of the two downtown special improvement districts, Cleve Ricksecker, about the state of downtown, why he retired, and why Columbus needs a screamer.

Can’t Stop Columbus

by Tim Fulton | Sep 4, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Business, Education, Episode, Non-Profit, People | 0 |

In this time of consistent change and challenge, we look at how the Columbus community is standing up. Can’t Stop Columbus is a community-wide movement that tries to address some of the problems that have arisen due to the COVID-19 crisis. Co-organizer Mackenzie King joins us to discuss how the organization got started, how they’ve scaled up to 56 projects, and the importance of being authentic in their endeavors.

Category: Business