Yesterday, demolition crews started dismantling the Spaghetti Warehouse building, a long-standing Franklinton fixture over a century old. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the 134-year-old edifice at 397 W. Broad Street will be replaced by a new construction comprising two multi-story apartment complexes, carrying both market rate and affordable housing options and commercial space.
Before the demolition commenced in force, a piece of history was rescued, a trolley car, installed when the warehouse was reimagined as a restaurant in 1978, being carefully removed from the premises. With the destruction just underway, the ABC6 captured scenes of the trolley setting aside in the parking lot, an artifact from a bygone era that made way for modern progress.
The decision to demolish came with controversy, hinging on the building's structural integrity following a roof collapse in 2022. The owners, The Robert Weiler Co., the Kelley family, and Spaghetti Warehouse chain CEO Doug Pak, ultimately received city permission to take the building down last October, despite the pushback from historic preservationists. As noted by the Columbus Dispatch article, the demolition received a financial boost from the state, receiving $180,000 to help fund the effort.
While the building couldn't be saved, the original trolley inside found a new lease on life. The Rickenbacker Woods Foundation, which played a critical role in preserving the trolley, is set to turn it into an interactive exhibit dedicated to Granville T. Woods, a Columbus-born inventor known as "The Black Edison." "He's responsible for developments like the induction telegraph system, a breakthrough that allowed moving trains to communicate and prevent accidents—making travel safer for everyone," the foundation highlighted in a statement obtained by WBNS. Fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign, have supported the preservation and forthcoming exhibit.
As the area faces a new architectural era, remnants of the past stay alive in memories and preserved pieces, such as the trolley's future in education. The Spaghetti Warehouse has relocated to 150 S. High St., reopening in November 2023. Amidst the rubble and renewal, these moves mark the latest chapter in Franklinton's evolving cityscape, reshaping relics into reflections for the community's future.
