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FeedNeighborhoods: Westerville
Photos below by Tessa Berg
Nestled between the bustle of Easton and Polaris, Westerville’s Uptown district retains a cozy mom-and-pop retail strip where residents peruse vintage treasures at Westerville Antiques and Otterbein University students weave down brick roads for late-night doughnuts at Schneider’s Bakery. The vibe draws urbanites in need of afternoon escape and cements many for life. “I love that you can still stroll down State Street, stop in the shops and get ice cream,” says Lisa Coulter, a Westerville native who lives a few miles from Uptown with her husband and two sons. “It’s that absolute, totally comfortable feel.”
1 Meza
A honeymoon in Napa Valley inspired Tatjana and Jason Brown to open their wine shop five years ago. “Meza is a boutique style of shopping,” Tatjana explains. “It’s a split between specialty retail and a place to enjoy wine and small plates.” International, domestic and Ohio-made bottles range from $10 to $20, and date-night activities include the Sip & Sketch art class and weekly tastings. Need a gift idea? Meza’s Wine of the Month Club delivers to Westerville residents. 48 N. State St., 614-259-3101, mezawineshop.com
2. Encircle
Clothing, jewelry, artwork and stationary poke from the skillfully arranged nooks of owner Amy Heath’s craft boutique, which promotes American goods and fair-trade lines from Nepal and Guatemala. Heath understands background and process behind featured products—like medium-sized Harveys totes ($104 and up) that are woven from real seatbelts. “The story is sometimes part of what the customer bonds with,” Heath says. “People want something that is going to touch them.” 30 N. State St., 614-891-9123, encircleart.com
3. Pasquale’s Italian Restaurant and Catering
For 25 years, owners Jim and Sylvia Francisco have been serving homemade pastas, pizzas, sauces and Italian pastries (Sylvia is a baker by trade) inside the 115-seat restaurant that’s also a popular private-party spot. Don’t miss the breakfast pizza, which Jim says Pasquale’s invented. “It’s like an Italian frittata,” he explains. “It takes an hour to make and can be called in and picked up as early as 6 a.m.” 14 N. State St., 614-882-6200, pasqualespastahouse.com
4. Amish Originals
Amish Originals owners meet personally with crafters from more than 70 Northeast Ohio families to ensure quality. “A lot of them we have worked with since the beginning,” office manager Mary Woodrum says, “and we have been open for 20 years.” Decorators will find oak, maple and cherry dining room tables, bedroom sets and desks, as well as patio-perfecting Poly Lumber Adirondack chairs in aqua, red and other colors. 38 N. State St., 614-891-6257, amishoriginals.com
Must-haves
2. Stop by Encircle for a journal to jot your thoughts. A colorful, handcrafted notebook from Merrily Made by Merrie ($14.50) easily fits in a purse or pocket.
5. Get ’em while they’re hot: Schneider’s Bakery (6 S. State St.) serves up glazed blueberry doughnuts, sugar twists and other sweets as early as 1 a.m. Grab one with a small carton of milk for a buck.
6. Tiny but inviting Heavenly Cup LLC (25 N. State St.) is tucked into the corner of State and Main streets. Duck in for a tasty, hand-warming Peppermint White Hot Chocolate ($3 for 12 ounces).
7. Keep a room bright without fear of fire with Inglow’s battery-operated flameless candles ($5.99) from Outside Envy (15 N. State St.).
8. Captivating Canines (46 N. State St.) is packed with dog-related coasters, T-shirts, car stickers and board games like Late for the Sky’s breed-themed Dog-opoly ($26.95).
