From Hims & Hers’ $200M Expansion to STRAUSS U.S. HQ Launch: Downtown Columbus’ $100M Urban Transformation and Twos Under High Revival Signal Economic and Cultural Momentum Across the Metro

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This week's data reveals downtown Columbus experiencing coordinated infrastructure-real estate transformation through nonprofit-led investments while suburban New Albany captures major digital health expansion and international headquarters selection validates Arena District corporate appeal.

In today's newsletter:

• Capital Line Construction Launch: $100M 2-mile urban pathway beginning December Gay Street phase with curbless design from Wall Street to Pearl Alley requiring underground vault infrastructure remediation before Spring 2026 street-level construction, supported by $10M city 2025 Capital Budget allocation, $10M state funding, and $500K Columbus Foundation grant positioning Gay Street District as public plaza event space

• Hims & Hers $200M+ Expansion: San Francisco digital health platform doubling New Albany facility footprint investing $200M+ creating 400 jobs supporting fulfillment, lab testing, and pharmacy operations following 2019 initial Central Ohio establishment, demonstrating growth-stage company regional retention through talent-infrastructure-operating environment advantages

• Downtown Real Estate Portfolio: DCI completing 37 W. Broad Street Huntington Plaza modernization for Columbus Water & Power 350+ employees, advancing Wyandotte Building 21 W. Broad Street historic window replacement, progressing Peninsula Phase Two 249-unit tower with 20,000 SF Market District grocery, and converting YMCA 40 W. Long Street into 121-unit Lofts supporting "all income levels" residential diversity

• STRAUSS U.S. Headquarters: German 75-year-old workwear company establishing Arena District headquarters-showroom-learning center creating 30 jobs, joining One Columbus foreign direct investment pipeline where nearly one-third active projects represent international companies spanning advanced manufacturing through logistics-design industries

HIMS & HERS HEALTH INVESTING $200M IN NEW ALBANY EXPANSION, CREATING 400 JOBS [Columbus Region]

Hims & Hers Health plans to invest more than $200 million to expand operations in New Albany—doubling its regional footprint and adding 400 new jobs supporting fulfillment, lab testing, and pharmacy operations. The digital health company, which first opened a Central Ohio facility in 2019, will leverage the Columbus Region’s advanced life sciences workforce and infrastructure network as it scales its national platform.

Investment Structure:

• $200M+ total capital investment

• 400 new jobs in fulfillment, lab, and pharmacy

• Expanded facility expected to open in 2026

• Supports digital health platform scaling from Columbus Region base

Why It Matters:
The expansion reinforces Central Ohio’s position as one of the nation’s fastest-growing hubs for life sciences and health technology operations, anchored by talent pipelines from The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and regional logistics capacity supporting globally scaled digital platforms.

STRAUSS ESTABLISHES U.S. HEADQUARTERS IN ARENA DISTRICT, ADDING INTERNATIONAL MOMENTUM TO DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS [Columbus Region]

European workwear company Engelbert STRAUSS Inc. will open its U.S. headquarters, showroom, and learning and development center in Downtown’s Arena District, creating 30 new jobs and adding another international brand to Columbus’ growing corporate network.

Founded more than 75 years ago in Germany, STRAUSS is recognized globally for high-performance workwear and design innovation across industries from construction to logistics. CEO Henning Strauss cited Columbus’ business accessibility, creative energy, and partnership network as key reasons for choosing the city.

Project Details:

• 30 new jobs created in design, operations, and retail

• Headquarters + branded showroom + training facility

• Located in the downtown Arena District

• Partnership engagement with One Columbus and Columbus Partnership

Why It’s Strategic:
STRAUSS joins a long list of foreign direct investment successes in Central Ohio—part of the nearly one-third of One Columbus’ active project pipeline represented by international firms. The decision enhances downtown’s creative economy and underscores the Arena District’s appeal as a hub for global corporate headquarters and innovation commerce.

DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS INC. ADVANCES $100M CAPITAL LINE CORRIDOR AND CITY CENTER REVITALIZATION PROJECTS

Downtown Columbus Inc. (DCI) is steering an ambitious wave of urban redevelopment projects transforming the city’s core through pedestrian connectivity, mixed-use housing, and expanded safety infrastructure. The centerpiece initiative, the Capital Line, represents a $100 million public-private investment redefining Gay Street as a curbless, multi-use pedestrian boulevard slated to begin construction this winter.

Key Project Highlights:

• Capital Line: $100M total investment; first phase includes $10M city funds, $10M state allocation, and $500K Columbus Foundation grant.

• Huntington Plaza Redevelopment: $10.1M project bringing Columbus Water & Power HQ (350 employees) downtown.

• YMCA Building Reuse: 121-unit mixed-income residential conversion by Woda Cooper.

• Ground Floor Growth Initiative: Supports retail growth downtown with new openings including Dos Hermanos, Evolverie Clothing, and Black Kahawa Coffee.

Strategic Impact:
Together, these DCI-led projects signal a broad urban reimagination effort balancing heritage preservation with modern infrastructure, anchoring economic stability, and expanding affordable housing options. The initiatives further unify city, corporate, and community partnerships fueling Columbus’ post-pandemic resurgence.

TWOS UNDER HIGH RETURNS TO CAMPUS IN 2026, REVIVING A LEGENDARY OHIO STATE HANGOUT

Nearly a decade after its demolition, Twos Under High—the revival of the beloved Too’s Under High dive bar—is set to reopen in 2026 at 2036 N. High St. beneath Dirty Frank’s. The announcement fulfills a long-promised comeback from owner Scott Ellsworth, whose later projects (Threes Above High, Fours on High, Fives Up High) kept the spirit of Too’s alive. [Whatnow]

Cultural Significance:

• Marks the return of an enduring Ohio State University tradition

• Reflects ongoing independent business resilience amidst campus redevelopment

• Strengthens community identity amid urban modernization

Why It Resonates:
Beyond nostalgia, Twos’ return embodies neighborhood continuity within redevelopment cycles, preserving cultural character while Columbus evolves. The reopening will return a sense of place for alumni and current students alike—a hometown revival meeting a city in transition.

THIS WEEK’S WRAP-UP

For Homeowners:
Recent investments—from Hims & Hers’ $200M expansion to DCI’s downtown enhancements—strengthen long-term regional employment and residential demand, stabilizing property values across broader Central Ohio suburbs.

For Home Buyers:
Strauss’ Arena District presence signals continued downtown vibrancy and cultural density, while population growth and job expansion sustain Columbus’ affordability advantage over coastal metros.

For Investors:
The Columbus Region’s increasing blend of global headquarters, life sciences infrastructure, and mixed-use revitalization confirms sustained economic momentum heading into 2026, with diverse investment opportunities across both urban and suburban submarkets.

Bottom Line:
This week demonstrated Columbus’ unique ability to attract global investment, advance urban redevelopment, and sustain entrepreneurial and cultural renewal simultaneously. From New Albany’s life sciences expansion to Downtown’s infrastructure transformation, the region continues to model balanced, data-backed growth securing its position as the Midwest’s next-generation economic hub.

Ready to evaluate how these corporate expansions and downtown improvements could shape your property or investment strategy in 2026? Let’s connect and translate the Columbus Region’s growth story into actionable insights.
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See you next week,
Gagan Timsina