A new restaurant with a unique workforce development mission is preparing to open in Downtown Columbus later this summer.
The Line, a forthcoming concept from the nonprofit organization Service!, is taking shape at 145 N. Grant Ave., in a former Columbus College of Art & Design building. According to The Columbus Foodletter, the restaurant will operate as a full-service dining destination while also serving as a training ground for hospitality professionals looking to advance their careers.
Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic to support hospitality workers, Service! Currently operates Cafe Overlook, a workforce development café located inside the Franklin County Courthouse. While Cafe Overlook focuses on introducing participants to the restaurant industry.
The Line is expected to provide advanced training opportunities for those seeking to build on existing skills and pursue leadership roles.
The Columbus Foodletter reports that chef Matthew Heaggans, known for his work at Ambrose, Eve, and The Rossi, will lead the kitchen as executive chef. The restaurant plans to employ approximately eight full-time staff members while welcoming cohorts of paid trainees throughout the year.
Participants will receive hands-on experience in front-of-house and back-of-house positions, including cooking, bartending, serving, and management.
The program is also building educational partnerships designed to support career growth. According to the publication, Service! has partnered with Otterbein University to offer a food and beverage certification that can be applied toward a management degree.
The organization is also working with Columbus State Community College on a pathway that would allow participants to transition into culinary education programs and provide graduates with employment opportunities.
When it opens, The Line is expected to serve a modern American menu. Breakfast and lunch offerings will lean toward casual fare, while dinner service will feature a more elevated dining experience. The Columbus Foodletter reports that menu items could include house-made breads, fresh pasta, a bistro burger, fried chicken sandwiches, seafood dishes, pork katsu, short rib cannelloni, and other chef-driven offerings prepared from scratch.
The restaurant will feature seating for approximately 80 guests indoors, plus a patio that can accommodate an additional 40 diners. Plans also call for a bar area, private event space, and an eight-seat chef’s table. Future expansion efforts include an incubator program that would provide food entrepreneurs with access to commercial kitchens and business development support.
In addition to customer-facing spaces, the facility is being designed with employee resources in mind, including a mothers’ room, employee break room, dedicated teaching space, and offices for case managers who will provide support services to program participants.
Construction is expected to be completed by July 1, with the first events and public programming anticipated later this summer, according to The Columbus Foodletter.
What Now Columbus has reached out to Service! For additional information regarding opening plans, we will provide updates as they become available.
