Northgate - Columbus, OH

Northgate became a popular shopping destination with the opening of Northland Mall in 1964, the first indoor mall in Columbus. It attracted shoppers from all over the northern part of the city. Its popularity drew other businesses to the area, enticing families to build homes and live there.

The decline of Northland Mall, beginning in the early 1990s, triggered a general decline in Northgate. Businesses shuttered their doors, and many residents moved away. After the mall closed in 2002, the Northgate area seemed to have more closed businesses than open ones. Property values declined, and those looking for cheap housing found it there. The area attracted people from many backgrounds, making it the diverse place it is today.

Residents travel to nearby Otterbein College in Westerville to watch live theatre productions or listen to the Westerville Symphony Orchestra.

The usual lineup of chain, fast food, and sit-down restaurants can be found in Northgate, but the food choices go way beyond the ordinary. Restaurants serving Indian, Mediterranean, Mexican, African, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Polynesian, Lebanese, Italian, or Brazilian foods can all be found in Northgate.

Dreylse African Restaurant offers a casual dining atmosphere with a touch of elegance including tablecloths and folded napkins. It serves traditional West African dishes, such as goat stew with rice, peanut butter soup with beef, okro stew, fried plantain with chicken, and waakye (rice and beans) with your choice of chicken, fish or goat.

For what has been called the "best Persian food in Ohio," locals go to Jeddo Kabab. The menu includes appetizers and sandwiches, as well as traditional dinners, such as shrimp, chicken or vegetable.

Huong Vietnamese boasts an extensive list of appetizers, salads and sandwiches and traditional Vietnamese foods, such as egg rolls, spring rolls, green papays salad, shrimp cakes, curries and soups with your choice of pho (flat rice), egg or tapioca noodles.

You might have a difficult time deciding what to order at Tadka Indian Cuisine on Granville Road. It serves what it calls "Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine with a twist." It has the usual Indian dishes, such as samosas, curries and tandoor chicken as well as spring rolls, egg drop soup and fried rice. Its menu also includes items including crispy lamb Beijing and firecracker shrimp.

For late-night entertainment, the locals go to the 8 Ball Sports Bar. As you might expect, the bar does have pool tables, 28 of them in fact. It also has dart boards and an indoor cornhole game. Pool tournaments are held on a regular basis. Enjoy a game or relax at the bar with a plate of wings, a sub or a juicy burger (just a few of the menu items) while you listen to the jukebox or watch TV.

Sidewalks line the streets in Northgate. There are no bike lanes, though. Use caution when crossing or riding on streets in the neighborhood as some have a great deal of traffic.

Residents have easy access to the 270 Outerbelt, which makes a loop around most of the metropolitan area, as well as to I-71, which runs north and south through the city. Both of these main thoroughfares connect with I-70, which runs east and west through the city and beyond.

Public parking abounds in the neighborhood with free parking available at all the shopping centers and strip malls around. You can park your car in one of these lots and catch a ride on a COTA bus. Buses make regular trips in and around the neighborhood. You can also call for a cab or utilize the Uber car service with your smartphone.

If you want to fly out of the area, board a flight at the Port Columbus International Airport, just southwest of the neighborhood.

Residents of Northgate have access to three small community parks: Northgate, Devonshire and Beechcroft. Each cover about 5 acres, and each has a playground area. Beechcroft also has football fields, and Northgate has a basketball court, picnicking facilities and a wildlife area.

A short ride northeast of the neighborhood brings you to Sharon Woods Metro Park, one of the largest parks in the Columbus area. Its 763 acres are covered with a mix of open fields and forests, an 11-acre pond and the Edward Thomas Nature Preserve. Residents go to the park to walk, bike, fish, picnic and play.

A bit farther north you will find Inniswood Metro Gardens, 123 acres filled with trees and landscaped gardens. The quiet, wide-open spaces lend themselves to relaxation, making it a perfect place for a walk. Pets are permitted at all the parks, but they remain on leashes.

The Columbus Metro Parks system sponsors an annual winter hike through Sharon Woods Metro Park. The event takes place in January and has become a popular activity over the past 40 years. Hikers of all ages are welcome. Hot soups and drinks await all who participate with no fee required.

The overall cost of living in Northgate stands about 1 percent higher than Columbus as a whole. Grocery and transportation costs remain about the same for each, while housing costs about 5 percent more in Northgate than in Columbus. The average cost of a one-bedroom rental runs about $600 per month.

A one-day COTA bus pass costs $4. You can buy a one-month pass for $62. Gas prices tend to run about 6 percent lower in Northgate than the national average. Expect to pay about $5 for a pint of beer in local pubs and restaurants.

Shops of all sorts stand on both sides of both East Dublin-Granville Road and North Cleveland Avenue, the two main thoroughfares that run through Northgate. Residents go to the Columbus Square Shopping Center, at the intersection of these two roads, where they can find food, clothing, restaurants, hair salons, and other places of interest.

Residents buy their regular groceries from Kroger, Meijer or Giant Eagle, all part of larger chains. Those with ethnic tastes or backgrounds can find Middle Eastern food and baked goods at the Salam Market and Bakery. Estilo Brazil sells Brazilian groceries. Lebanese foods and pastries can be found at the Little Lebanon Bakery, and Carfagna's Market stocks its shelves with Italian foods. Fresh produce, baked goods and locally made products can be found June through August at the Easton Farmers Market in the Easton Town Center just west of the neighborhood.

Shoppers looking for boutiques must travel outside of the neighborhood, with one such destination being nearby Westerville. Several boutiques there sell both new and vintage items. Search the unique goods at Abbey Rose Boutique for something special, perhaps a pair of vintage earrings or a set of table linens. It sells mostly household items, but it also has some new items in stock.

Looking for a hand-made bracelet or a vintage scarf? You might find them at the De De & Dolly Boutique. The owners describe their store as a "chic boho boutique." It sells jewelry and apparel items, both new and vintage, some of which are homemade.

An eclectic assortment of clothes, furniture, knick knacks, books, records and all manner of interesting and unusual items cover the walls and shelf space at A Gal Named Cinda Lou. The shop specializes in items from the 1950s to the 1970s. It also sells crafts made by local artisans.