COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Short North Alliance (SNA) is taking a close look at how the area is recovering post-pandemic.

Over six months, the SNA, along with outside consultants, looked into who is shopping in the Short North, how businesses are doing and the impact the area has on Columbus.

The SNA said it did not have a good understanding of what was going on in the area post-COVID. These findings are now helping them see where the district is doing well and where it needs to improve.

The study results came from consumer and business surveys, focus groups and one-on-one interviews and touched on a variety of areas. One area that did raise a flag was vacancy rates.

“There are some opportunities there, we think, to strengthen that experience. We’re paying attention to that and wanting to learn more,” SNA Executive Director Betsy Pandora said. 

The findings said ideal storefront vacancy rates are between 5-7%. In the central area of the district, the storefront vacancy rate is 21%.

“From an office standpoint, though, the short north as a community has fared a little bit better in terms of its office vacancy rates relative to the city as a whole,” Pandora said. 

One business owner said he’s seen this change firsthand. Jason Williams is the owner of Big Fun. His store has been in the area for 11 years. 

He said he’s stopped keeping track of the places that have come and gone.

“It’s got to be above 40 or 50. Though, now it feels like the businesses that have survived the pandemic have got stronger roots or, you know, or you come through that we’re more and more durable,” Williams said. 

He said that durability is being helped by a return in customers. The study looked into who is coming to the Short North and the results show about a quarter are out-of-town visitors.

“Columbus itself has been getting a lot more conventions and larger conventions. So we see a lot of transient guests come through, a lot more year after year after year. And it’s really helped our business,” Samson Men’s Emporium manager Johnny Wilson said. 

Overall the study shows the area is growing: from new hotels, economic impact and customers.

“One of the things that we learned from the survey is that relative to other peer communities, the Short North really functions as an innovation district because we have so many small businesses,” Pandora said. 

Of those businesses, the study says 84% are small and locally owned. The study also looked at the area’s economic impact and that number is in the billions. The full study results can be found here. 

NBC4 also asked the Short North Alliance about safety; summer 2023 highlighted the issue, with curfews and increased police presence after a slew of shootings.

The Short North Alliance is continuing its emphasis on safety, with more measures going into place this weekend. SNA said the city of Columbus will be expanding its late-night rideshare-only parking zones.

This is something that was tested as a pilot in 2023, and SNA said the area is going to see a lot more starting in just a few days.

SNA said the rideshare expansion will work to reduce congestion and make the streets more predictable.

“It’s a great benefit for visitors coming to the community because now you’ll have more accessible ways in which you can take that ride-share transportation to and from the Short North. And part of why that’s a great safety strategy is it helps prevent pedestrian safety challenges and safety incidents,” Pandora said. 

Other safety measures are still in place: special duty officers work later hours on days when the area sees an increase in people.

There is also the Short North ambassador team. This is a resource to support business owners and guests and act as an added safety support service.