After years of talk and sketching out plans on paper, Rambling House South is finally moving forward on Columbus’ South Side. The riverfront project is set to bring outdoor music stages, water access for kayaks and a cluster of small event buildings to a stretch of South High near the Scioto River. City Winery, the New York-based wine-and-music chain long promised for the former Via Vecchia space, remains part of the neighborhood rebuild, even as its exact opening date keeps drifting.
As reported by Axios, an entertainment venue tentatively called "Rambling House South" is preparing to break ground this summer, John Lynch told the outlet in an email. Lynch, the former owner of the original Rambling House in Old North, said he wants to "create something that feels authentic to the area" while offering outdoor gathering spots, opportunities for local businesses and live music. Axios also notes the site sits near Great Southern Metro Park and aims to give the public better river access for recreation.
What The Riverfront Project Would Include
According to Columbus Business First, the plan calls for a campus of roughly 19–20 acres with a canoe livery, an amphitheater and an indoor event space, plus room that could support restaurant or beverage production. Backers have pursued rezoning and site plans that place most activity along the Scioto's east bank, across from the old South Drive-In and about a mile north of Great Southern Metro Park. Developers say the mix of outdoor recreation, music and small-scale production is meant to link existing South Side assets with new housing and commercial activity.
City Winery Update
As reported by Axios, City Winery, the New York-founded restaurant-and-music chain, is still slated for the former Via Vecchia building at 2108 S. High St., though the Columbus build has slipped from earlier timetables. Axios notes the chain first announced plans in 2022 and that the Columbus project is behind schedule. The Dispatch quoted City Winery founder Michael Dorf in 2023 saying, "We are 100% committed to opening."
How The Pieces Fit On The South Side
Nearby, the larger Steelton Village mixed-use development continues to grow, with a new brewery and additional housing planned as part of a broader corridor push. Columbus Business First and other local reporting point to multiple housing projects and affordable-housing efforts moving forward, signaling steady investment along South High and the riverfront.
Timelines remain fluid. Rambling House South is targeting site work this summer, while the City Winery schedule hinges on permits, financing and construction sequencing. We will be watching filings and permit activity for the clearest signs of when the venues, and the jobs and events they promise, actually land on the South Side.
