Country star Chase Rice is steering his country bar concept Welcome to the Farm straight into Columbus' Short North this summer, setting up shop in the street-level space of the Good Night John Boy building on North High Street. The new outpost is pitched as an intimate, music-first hangout for country fans and adds yet another Forward Hospitality nightlife player to the neighborhood's already crowded late-night roster.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Short North version of Welcome to the Farm will occupy the first floor of Good Night John Boy at 906 N. High St., with room for about 100 people and a calendar built around rotating country DJs and live music nights. The Columbus Dispatch reports that Rice is partnering with Forward Hospitality on the project and that the bar will feature signature cocktails, large-format shareable drinks, and an expansive bourbon and whiskey lineup. The paper also notes that Rice, who has family ties to the Columbus area, is booked to play Kemba Live in August and said in a statement that bringing the Farm concept to the Short North "just feels right."
From Cleveland To St. Pete: A Touring Concept
Welcome to the Farm debuted in Cleveland in 2021 and has since popped up in other cities, combining a compact music room with barbecue-style food and a whiskey-heavy bar. Coverage of the rollout describes a tight, late-night venue focused on live performances and bottle and service offerings, a template Forward Hospitality has been duplicating in multiple markets. Both Cleveland Scene and Eater Chicago have tracked the chain's openings and highlighted Forward Hospitality's role in building out the venues.
Short North Slot And Forward Hospitality's Footprint
Forward Hospitality already runs Good Night John Boy in the Short North building that will house the Farm, and local reporting notes the address previously held SeeSaw before the group changed concepts. Columbus Underground detailed SeeSaw's wind-down and Good Night John Boy's arrival, while OpenTable lists the Good Night John Boy location and confirms its Short North address at 906 N. High St.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Welcome to the Farm is expected to open sometime this summer, although no official grand-opening date has been made public. When the doors do open, fans can look for a tight, music-focused room with DJs, live sets, and a bourbon-centric bar program tuned to the Short North's late-night crowd. Watch for the team to roll out formal opening details and first-show announcements in the coming weeks.
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