Rally House is looking to knock down its Lane Avenue shop across from Ohio Stadium and replace it with a much larger two‑story store that could reshape one of the busiest game‑day corners in Columbus. Preliminary designs show a building more than triple the size of the current storefront, along with a mounted electronic sign on the side wall. City reviewers have already left dozens of comments on the proposal, raising questions about signage, site layout, and other technical details. If approved, the project would significantly alter the look and advertising landscape on Lane Avenue for the next wave of Buckeye fans.
As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, preliminary site plans filed by Galloway & Company LLC call for a new two‑story Rally House at 316 W. Lane Ave. that would exceed 12,100 square feet and feature illuminated channel letters, decorative banners, and a branded "selfie wall." The Dispatch also notes that the filing includes a 400‑square‑foot mounted electronic billboard on the building’s side and that Rally House did not respond to the paper’s request for comment.
According to Columbus Business First, the proposal envisions digital signage that could carry OSU game‑day messages as well as paid advertising to help offset construction costs. That outlet framed the plan as a bid to turn the small existing shop into a full‑blown destination for Buckeye shoppers rather than a simple souvenir stop.
Design features: billboard, banners and a selfie wall
614NOW reviewed the city submission and described a two‑story retail buildout with modern touches aimed squarely at social‑media‑minded visitors. The application lists illuminated signage, decorative banners, and a selfie wall intended to pull in foot traffic and juice user‑generated content on game days.
City reviewers push back on signage and site details
City staff left "dozens of comments" on a preliminary site compliance letter, flagging technical and permitting issues that the applicant will need to resolve, according to The Columbus Dispatch. One reviewer wrote that "graphics and signage must go through a separate permit process and should be removed from the submission," language quoted in the compliance letter cited by the paper.
What stands now and what would change
County property listings show that the current building on the site dates to 1942, per Zillow, and the submitted plans would replace that longtime storefront with a substantially larger retail space. Corporate materials indicate that Rally House operates more than 300 stores nationwide, underscoring its interest in a higher‑profile Lane Avenue presence; see Rally House.
Next steps and timeline
The preliminary site plan was scheduled to go before the city’s Development Commission on July 15, according to 614NOW. Even if the commission advances the project, the applicant will still need building‑plan approval and permits from several city departments before demolition or construction can start, as outlined on the City of Columbus plan‑review pages.
For now, the application remains under review, and any tweaks to the design or signage will come only after the development team answers the city’s comments. The proposal is one more example of how retailers and developers are steadily remaking the blocks around Ohio State’s campus as game‑day crowds and advertising value continue to drive what gets built where.
