A new restaurant and bar is set to bring a mix of Latin American, Spanish and Mediterranean influences to Columbus’ Park Street, reviving a familiar name from the area’s nightlife history.
Sugar is scheduled to open at 504 Park St soon, with the concept coming from Columbus-based One Hospitality. The two-story restaurant will offer lunch, dinner, happy hour, weekend brunch and late-night options, with a patio designed for both everyday dining and private events.
The new Sugar is connected to the original venue that operated on Park Street before closing in 2010. Chris Corso, the owner of the original Sugar, is also the owner of the new concept, according to Briana Konich, One Hospitality’s Executive Operations Director.
Konich said the decision to bring back the Sugar name was partly driven by nostalgia, as Corso wanted to return to the area where he began building his Columbus hospitality portfolio.
“He was the one that was the owner of all of those venues on Park Street,” Konich said during an interview with WhatNow Columbus. She added that Corso wanted to return to his roots as Park Street undergoes renewed development.
While the original Sugar was more focused on nightlife, the new restaurant is designed to serve a broader audience. Konich said the concept will cater to customers looking for everything from business lunches and happy hours to dinners, concerts and nightlife.
The menu will blend influences from Latin American, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, with an emphasis on approachable, shareable dishes designed for groups.
Konich said the menu was developed in part to fill a gap she sees in the Park Street area, which has several Mexican restaurants but fewer concepts combining influences from multiple regions.
The beverage programme will include margaritas, Spanish-inspired spritzes and other cocktails. Among the drinks Konich recommends is the restaurant’s frozen avocado margarita, which is expected to be one of Sugar’s signature offerings. The menu will also include a horchata espresso martini made with banana rum.
Sugar’s two floors will offer different experiences. The main floor will feature booths, tables and bar seating for day-to-day dining, while the second floor will include a private bar and space for private events and larger gatherings.
The restaurant’s enclosed patio will feature its own bar and can also be reserved for private events. Cabanas along the side of the property will provide additional outdoor seating geared toward a more relaxed nightlife experience.
Konich said the restaurant is intentionally designed to transition between dining and nightlife, with different areas offering different atmospheres throughout the day and evening.
Sugar is also part of One Hospitality’s broader plans for Park Street. The company currently operates Astra Rooftop and Spruce Street Sporting in the area and has additional concepts planned, including Spice, Sorella, The Parlor and Park Street Patio.
Konich said the company currently has six concepts planned for the Park Street area, with the goal of creating a concentrated hospitality district where customers can move between different restaurants and bars without leaving the area.
One Hospitality is also continuing to look for opportunities elsewhere, although Konich said the company does not currently have plans to take these concepts into other neighbourhoods or markets.
Sugar’s official opening schedule is slightly different from the previously announced grand-opening plans. Konich confirmed that Aug. 27 will serve as an official sneak-peek date, with the restaurant opening for reservations on Aug. 28.
The Aug. 27 event is expected to include entertainment, cocktails and passed appetisers, with the street in front of the restaurant closed for the celebration.
For Corso and the One Hospitality team, the return of Sugar is also an opportunity to reconnect with Columbus diners who remember the original Park Street venue.
Konich said many of those former customers are now in their 30s and 40s, giving the new Sugar an opportunity to introduce the name to a new generation while bringing back those familiar with its first chapter.
