Columbus Welcome Center to open in Short North, replacing Arena District visitor hub and offices
A new location and a new operating model for the city’s primary visitor-facing hub
Columbus’ main tourism visitor center is entering a new chapter with the opening of the Columbus Welcome Center at 625 N. High St. in the Short North Arts District. The new site is scheduled to open on February 5, 2026, with a three-day grand opening planned for February 5–7.
The Welcome Center replaces the former Arena District visitor center at 277 W. Nationwide Blvd., which was permanently closed on October 17, 2025. The organization’s visitor services have continued during the transition through a separate visitor center location at Easton Town Center.
Why the move: closer to a high-traffic corridor and a reconfigured footprint
The relocation places the visitor center on North High Street in an area that draws significant pedestrian traffic from dining, retail and arts activity, and within a short distance of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The move also coincides with a reassessment of office space needs tied to the tourism bureau’s operations, reflecting a broader shift in how visitor information is distributed—both in person and through digital tools—while retaining a walk-in, retail-facing presence.
The new address is in a space previously occupied by a national retailer, underscoring the continued repurposing of prominent storefronts along High Street for new uses.
What visitors can expect inside the new Columbus Welcome Center
Plans for the new facility emphasize a more experiential format than a traditional brochure counter. In addition to staff support for trip planning and local recommendations, the space is designed to showcase Columbus-based businesses and artists through rotating features and activations.
The Welcome Center is also intended to serve residents as a practical stop for city exploration tools, including prize redemptions tied to local themed trails such as the Columbus Coffee Trail, Columbus-Style Pizza Trail and Columbus Booklovers Trail.
Location: 625 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
Opening date: February 5, 2026
Grand opening: February 5–7, with posted daily operating hours for the event window
Regular hours beginning February 5: daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programming and grand opening weekend
The grand opening weekend is expected to include scheduled programming such as live music, partner giveaways (while supplies last) and light food and beverage offerings, with hosted segments featuring local media and in-house programming tied to Columbus tourism content. A coffee bar is also planned as part of the visitor experience, intended to encourage longer stops for trip planning or breaks while exploring the neighborhood.
The shift from the Arena District site to the Short North location consolidates visitor-facing services into a corridor that supports walk-in traffic while continuing to provide a staffed, in-person resource for both visitors and locals.
What remains open during the transition
While the Short North site comes online, visitor services have continued at Easton Town Center, where the visitor center operates inside the Easton Station building. Physical collateral fulfillment has also been coordinated around the relocation timeline, with pickup planned at the new Welcome Center once orders are ready.
With the February 5 opening, Columbus’ visitor services are positioned to reintroduce a central “front door” for the city—now anchored in one of its most active mixed-use districts.