Theaters, Restaraunts, etc. in Columbus, IN? (Lafayette, Culver: relocating, houses, school)

[domergurl]

Columbus is an anomoly in terms of the housing market. If you go up to Greenwood or Indy, it is in a slump with homes on the market a lot longer than in Columbus. We saw several houses in our market come and go in Columbus when we were selling in Fishers. We almost moved up to Greenwood because all the houses we wanted were gone ... fortunately, we found the one we purchased before it went on the market.

[domergurl]

Culvers!!!! Columbus Needs Culvers!!!!

[nota native]

What is the story about the substandard grocery stores in Columbus? Where do people shop?

We recently moved back to Columbus in preparation for retirement here. We find Columbus just as always-home and friendly and welcoming. We are living in the Tipton Lakes area. Moved here from Kansas City, Missouri just a few months ago. Along the way, we lived almost 2 years in the St. Louis area and then almost 10 years in the KC area.

Columbus is great EXCEPT for the grocery stores. What on earth is going on with them? Not only are they lacking in choice and merchandise, but they are DIRTY and behind the times. I’ve tried Jay-C, Kroger and Marsh which is where I shopped when I lived here. Marsh seems to have had a small facelift since I was there last holiday season, but even that failed to bring it up to a 2008 store. The prices seem reasonable, but the rest of the experience is substandard, especially for a city like Columbus touts itself to be.

After living in cities, I DON’T EXPECT a city type store for a metro of many people in a small town such as Columbus.

What I DID EXPECT was clean, well maintained stores with choices and 2008 amenities. I’m looking for FRESH produce and a choice. Instead, I find row upon row of bagged salad and other prepackaged things that just are not satisfactory.

I drove to these all three of these stores the other day looking for a Romaine that wasn’t prepackaged. NOT! Apples-not more than 4 or 5 varieties. Lemons and limes-all were spotted and past their prime. Aged fixturing in disrepair as well.

At 6PM on moving day, I visited the Jay-C store for a chicken dinner for our movers. Yes, they had chicken, but all the pans of sides were empty, the place was dirty and not an appetizing place to buy dinner. The people were friendly.

Of course I’m told that the shopping is better in Greenwood and Bloomington, but my home is Columbus.

I challenge you to take a tour and check out these places and see if you see the same things I do.

And where are the independent restaurants? We find mostly the same old chains except for a few. We have yet to find a NICE place to eat closer than Greenwood or Bloomington. Mark Pi's is an exception.

Sorry to be so negative, but these are just questions I worry about.

[domergurl]

I feel your pain. What this town needs is a Meijer! I make the trek up to Southport Road every now and then to get a real grocery store. I email Meijer every couple months and plead my case and at least when they answer my emails, they are nice. Kroger is close to my house, but it's an old store and not very clean ... Marsh on 25th is ok since the makeover, but their prices are insane now. I've been to JC, but they are Kroger lite. Won't go to Wal-Mart. I do like Marsh's deli & meat counter better than Krogers, but I like Kroger's seafood department ... hey, that reminds me ... I WISH that Columbus would get a meat and seafood market. We had them all over the place up north. Sure, you pay more, but I'll pay for personal service and better quality. If I had the extra cash, I'd open up the following things in Columbus:

A Chicago style pizza place (Nancy's, Giordanos, Edwardos)
Dunkin' Donuts
Culvers
Meijers, or convert the Target into a Super Target
A meat and seafood store
A Costco between here and Greenwood

I love Columbus and I'll love it no matter if these stores come in or not, it would just make it that much better.

[Jay_F]

Ever try ALDI?

Yep, ALDI. First time I saw them was when I lived in Germany almost 20 years ago, and I am glad to have them here in Columbus. Produce there is good and cheap especially the salads/Romaine lettuce, plus I love the seasonal items such as Xmas Stollen, Italian items (God I love Pizzels), and other authentic ethnic items. Their Winking Owl wine is very good, as is their house lager beer.

I'm a North East native and do miss the food from the region, but try living in Jackson county if you want to see limited choice. I used to have check out people (different people) ring up garlic numerous times as onions. Oh yeah, I despise WalMart too, and stay out as much as possible.

[arossi]

Hello, I haven't posted in a while, but I had to chime in on this one...I could not agree more about the grocery stores in this town. It is my one gripe when I am asked about our new hometown of Columbus. I feel guilty about taking my Meijer for granted all the years we had one right arond the corner! Oh, and one more thing Domer, could you add a Penn Station to your list? THAT would be fantastic!

[domergurl]

Ok! Add Penn Station then. Maybe we could forward this thread to Mayor Armstrong! I'm constantly flummoxed by how this town can support 2 Super WalMarts ... why???? We need a Meijer to put one of them out of business! Perfect spot for them would be across the street from Lowe's in that open field on 31 & Taylor Rd.

I haven't ventured into the Aldi's here yet. Love those stores, love the concept. Those Germans know how to do some things right.

[tallguy924]

Originally Posted by mark0417

Hi all. We are in the early stages of considering relocating to Columbus, Indiana. Today I made a quick trip there to see what it was like. I thought it was a really nice place, but there were a few things I couldn't seem to find that worried me. Perhaps some people who live there could answer the following for me?

Does Columbus have a movie theater?

Does Columbus have malls? I found one (Oak-something) that just had a KMart and JC Penny....Also, I couldn't seem to find the big-box electronics stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, etc.

What does Columbus offer in the way of restaraunts? I found a few scattered around, such as Texas Roadhouse, but couldn't find things like Chili's, Oliver Garden, etc.

To be fair, I could have just gotten off on the wrong exit (I took exit 68 off of I-65 to go to downtown Columbus).

Thanks for your help!

Mark

Columbus has a movie theatre right behind walmart. its kindof hard to see from the major roads. we have a circuit city as well right when you get into columbus off of the worst highway, 31. too much traffic. anyway we got chili's and thats right by circuit city. we dont have olive garden, although i wish we did, we have applebees, golden coral, stirloin stockade, buffalo wild wings, red lobster, and a ton of fast food stuff, which your probably not looking for. we got edinburgh outlet mall when you go north of town and that has just about everything you want.

[tallguy924]

ya the grocery stores here arent all that great, but i have to believe Jay on jackson county being worse. all they have is a J-C, and a walmart.

you could always become a member at sam,s club, they cook mean pizzas! and they always let you try a sample of free delicious food before you buy it. that is probably the best grocer in town.

[nota native]

I am a member of Sam's.

Shop there quite often in fact. But their quantities make it hard for us to buy a whole lot of regular shopping there because there are only 2 of us. And they don't have the selection of a true grocer either.

My favorite grocer in Columbus is WalMart on 46. And I absolutely loathe Walmart and all they stand for. But they really work at their business. The store is clean and full 99% of the time. They just don't have much of a selection either.