The Hills Market opening downtown store

Announcements — By Melanie McIntyre on March 8, 2013 at 6:00 am

Over the last two decades, The Hills Market has become a Worthington institution of sorts.

Considering the specialty grocer carries more than 2,500 Ohio-made products, more than 4,000 wine labels, and tens of thousands of specialty items, it’s not hard to see why. And on March 19 it will expand its reach with the grand opening of a second location at 95 N. Grant Ave. in downtown Columbus.

“We couldn’t think of a better 20th birthday present to ourselves: the ability to provide stellar product and customer service to a part of town that needs a market,” says Jill Moorhead, spokeswoman for The Hills Market.

Though the downtown store will be smaller than the Worthington store (12,000 square feet versus 16,800 square feet), it will have almost the same amount of product.

“We are able to do this because we will not have a State Liquor Agency like the Worthington location and we will not have a full-service floral counter,” Moorhead says.

However, the new store will have:

• a dairy department featuring several products from Ohio-based companies, such as Smith Dairy and Snowville Creamery

• a bakery featuring more than 25 local vendors, including Dan the Baker, Pattycake Bakery, and Sassafras Bakery

• a frozen food section featuring products by local producers Luna Burger and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

• a full-service butcher shop

• a seafood counter featuring a variety of options that are delivered daily

• a deli featuring meats roasted in house, as well as Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses, and made-to-order sandwiches

• a 16-foot salad bar featuring veggies, toppings, and housemade soups

• a selection of sushi made in house daily

When it came to building out the downtown store, The Hills Market made a conscious effort to work with local designers, artisans and tradesmen, including:

• Michelle Isroff and Diane Rambo of Big Red Rooster (interior renderings)

• Jim Rudy of Lupton Rausch (architect)

• Jeremy Wells (freelance chalkboard artist)

• Andy Dehus (sign designer)

• Shawn Walburn (sign installation)

• Amtekco Industries (display fixtures)

• Key Blueprints

• Multicon (general construction)

• A.C. Lister Company (slicers)

• Stewarts Security

• Dannemiller Diversified (cases)

• Electric Solutions Inc.

• Mettler Toledo (scales)

• Midwest Retail Services (shelving)

• Northland Refrigeration

• Chasetek (phone)

• Infoguard (computer networking and firewalls)

• Delta (HVAC)

“Our commitment to our community is not limited to food, beverage and gift items,” she says. “We are downtown Columbus’s locally owned, full-service grocer, and we are adamant about supporting the local economy.”

The Hills Market Downtown will be open from 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays. The parking lots has 15 spaces, as well as bike parking.

To learn more about The Hills Market, visit TheHillsMarket.com.

Author Bio: Melanie McIntyre:
Melanie McIntyre has served as editorial director of The Metropreneur since its launch in 2010. She previously worked as a staff writer for a business and legal newspaper, where she wrote more than 500 stories about finance and real estate and development in Central Ohio. Since 2008, Melanie has worked on a freelance basis for several local entities, including Columbus Underground, where she is a featured writer. She also blogs about fashion, style, and pop culture at Thoroughly Modern Melly. Melanie is a graduate of The Ohio State University, lives in the Short North, and enjoys reading and running.