Otherworld founder and Ten27 Group plan Stillhaus thermal spa conversion at 520 South High Street
A former restaurant and jazz-club building is slated for a new wellness use
A prominent two-story building in the Brewery District near German Village is set to be redeveloped into a luxury thermal spa and sensory wellness retreat, following a recent property sale. The address is 520 S. High St., previously known for housing Copious, a restaurant, and the Notes jazz club.
The property has been purchased by Stillhaus, LLC. Plans described by the project team call for converting the site into “Stillhaus,” a modern thermal spa concept that would combine traditional hot-and-cold bathing experiences with immersive audio-visual elements. The targeted opening timeframe has been described as late 2026.
Who is behind the project
The venture is being led by Jordan Renda, founder and principal of Otherworld—an immersive arts venue in Columbus—and his brother Kevin Renda, co-founder of Ten27 Group, a real estate company with operations tied to Cincinnati and Columbus. The Rendаs have positioned Stillhaus as a day-retreat destination, aiming to attract both local visitors and regional guests seeking structured wellness experiences in an urban setting.
What “Stillhaus” is expected to include
Planning materials describe approximately 15,000 square feet of programmed space spread across three levels. The building’s lower level—formerly used as a music venue—is expected to become the core thermal circuit area, with multiple wet and heat experiences.
- Hot and cold plunge pools, including cold plunges and hot plunges
- A social pool intended for longer stays and small-group use
- Saunas and steam rooms
- Saltwater-focused elements and dedicated treatment rooms
- Immersive video environments intended to be integrated into parts of the bathing experience
The team has indicated it will rely on technology partners associated with Otherworld for some experiential components, aiming to blend wellness programming with immersive media design.
Investment scale and local development context
The redevelopment has been framed as a roughly $10 million project, tied to the adaptive reuse of an existing building rather than ground-up construction. The site’s location on South High Street places it within a corridor that has seen ongoing reinvestment, including hospitality, dining, and mixed-use projects that benefit from proximity to Downtown Columbus, German Village, and major employers and institutions nearby.
The project has been presented as a European-inspired thermal spa model adapted for a central Ohio market, with design choices intended to support contrast therapy and extended, appointment-based visits.
What remains unknown
Key operational details have not been finalized publicly, including pricing, membership structure (if any), hours, capacity, and the specific scope of health-and-safety protocols tied to pools and heat environments. Permitting, construction timelines, and phased openings—common variables in adaptive-reuse projects—will determine whether the late-2026 target remains achievable.