Buffalo used to roam in Northland, and 4 other fun facts about the Columbus neighborhood
When thinking about the Northland neighborhood, many local's minds may turn to the former Northland Mall, a diverse array of good food, and Anheuser-Busch.
Located in the northeast part of Columbus, Northland began to develop in 1955 when the Metzger Brothers company began to build what came to be called Forest Park. By the time it was done, Forest Park consisted of more than 2,900 private residential properties, apartments, condominiums and commercial properties.
Then in 1962, Interstate 71 was completed into downtown Columbus from the north. Two years later, Northland Mall opened, attracting thousands of shoppers across central Ohio.
Columbus neighborhoods: Northland community isn't defined by the mall
Dining: Mehak Indian Kitchen & Bar brings the spice to Northland
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Northland began to decline, especially when the mall shuttered its doors in 2002. But the area is experiencing a comeback, thanks to its booming immigrant population. The area is home to one of the city's largest populations of new American citizens, including thousands of Somali and Nepali Bhutanese refugees.
Here are five things you might not know about Northland:
Northland is so large, it could be its own city
The approximately 25-square-mile neighborhood, situated east of I-71 between the Interstate 270 outerbelt and Morse Road, boasts 97,000 residents and an incredibly diverse community, according to the Northland Community Council.
News: New census data show Asian, other minority residents driving Northland’s population growth
If Northland were its own incorporated city, it would be the seventh-largest one in Ohio.
The Columbus neighborhood once had two shopping destinations
Although many people might think of Northland Mall as the area's top retail destination during the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, there was another popular shopping center — The Continent.
Located on Busch Boulevard near Dublin-Granville Road, The Continent opened in 1972 and paved the way for Easton Town Center by offering a city-within-a-city experience. Resembling a European village, the center had narrow streets with open-air cafes, shops and apartments, according to WOSU. The centerpiece was its French Market complete with a water fountain, where visitors could buy food from local vendors.
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But as newer malls like Easton and Polaris Fashion Place began opening in other parts of the city, The Continent and Northland Mall experienced a decline in foot traffic. Northland was closed in 2002, and The Continent is mostly empty with the exception of its apartment complexes and some businesses like entertainment venue The King of Clubs and Eclipse Lounge.
Global Mall is one of few Somali shopping centers in the country
As The Continent and Northland Mall began to fade in popularity, Global Mall, off Morse Road, has become a destination for the city's Somali and immigrant communities since its opening in 2002.
The 30 businesses that make up the mall offer a range of goods and services — traditional Somali clothing, jewelry, travel planning and food and drink — and a majority are owned by Somalis.
Northland Mall: 20 years since mall's closing, the area is making a comeback
Global Mall is one of a handful of shopping centers catering to the Somali population across the country. Other malls include Somali Mall International in Louisville, Kentucky; Karmel Mall in Minneapolis; and Somali Star Shops in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Anheuser-Busch brewery was once home to buffalo
The brewery at 700 Schrock Road brought in herds of buffalo and deer on the grounds a year after opening in 1968. The plan was to open a theme park or animal reserve, but that plan didn't come to fruition. The herd of about 160 animals eventually was moved to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1974.
The brewery remained a popular tourist destination, however.
More:How Northland's Global Mall became a landmark for Columbus' Somali community
Locals and out-of-towners alike came for guided tours and to browse in the gift shop, which carried such branded items as steins, coolers, golf shirts, caps, and “Spudswear,” featuring the Bud Light bull terrier “Spuds MacKenzie” character. About 500 to 600 tourists a week were going to Anheuser-Busch, The Dispatch reported in 1980.
When the facility’s welcome center was demolished in the late 1990s to accommodate an expansion, the public tours ceased.
Northland high schools have notable alumni
Northland once was host to three high schools: Northland, Beechcroft and the now-closed Brookhaven. All three schools have former students who have gone on to become professional athletes, politicians, musicians and writers. Here are some of the most well-known alumni:
Northland High School
Trey Burke, University of Michigan basketball star who has played with multiple NBA teams
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State basketball star and NBA player for the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors. He now plays for the Shenzhen Leopards in China.
Patrick Tiberi, U.S. representative of Ohio's 12th District from 2001 to 2018.
Georgeann Wells, first women’s basketball player to dunk in a college game in 1984 during her time at West Virginia University.
Dwight Yoakam, Grammy-winning country music artist and actor.
Beechcroft High School
Hanif Abdurraqib, poet, essayist, and cultural critic.
Curtis Keaton, former NFL player for the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints.
Brookhaven High School
Jeff Cumberland, former NFL player for the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Helen Darling, former WNBA player for such teams as the Cleveland Rockers and San Antonio Silver Stars.
Terry Glenn, former Ohio State football star and NFL player with the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys. He died in 2017 at the age of 43.
Marlon Kerner, former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills.
Paul O'Neill, former MLB player for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.
Molly O'Neill, cookbook author and former food writer for The New York Times. She died in 2019 at the age of 66.
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mwalker@dispatch.com
@micah_walker701
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fun facts about Northland neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio
