A view of Orange Leaf inside The Commons in Columbus.
A view of Orange Leaf inside The Commons in Columbus.
Columbus officials plan to have a Seymour business reopen Orange Leaf at The Commons.
The Columbus Redevelopment Commission has voted to enter into contract negotiations with BW Smith, LLC to operate the frozen yogurt shop, which has been closed for a little over two years.
The commission approved a resolution to lease the space during a brief public meeting Thursday. The document states that the commission has reviewed the business’s financial information and finds them to be “an appropriate and reasonable choice” to lease the space.
BW Smith LLC has two principals, Brandy and William Smith. The couple own and operate an Orange Leaf in Seymour and are also working to open a Humble Donuts franchise. Brandy Smith said in a previous interview that if the lease transfer goes through, they would reopen The Commons space as an Orange Leaf once more.
“We had an executive session and looked at BW Smith’s financial information to determine whether we wanted to move forward, and we are awaiting one final document from BW Smith in order to move forward,” said Redevelopment Director Heather Pope on Thursday. “However, I just spoke with Brandy Smith this morning, and she said that she has spoken with Orange Leaf corporate, and we should have this document by the end of this week — so tomorrow.”
Pope said the resolution approved by the redevelopment commission allows her, commission attorney Stan Gamso, and commission president Al Roszczyk to move forward with contract negotiations that would see the Smiths enter into a lease similar to that of the previous tenant.
As stated in the resolution, “Upon successful negotiations of a new lease the President or his designee may go forward and executing any and all necessary documents to put in place a lease for the space located at 302 Washington St. without further action by the commission.”
Pope expects to give an update at the commission’s May 16 meeting.
According to city officials, Orange Leaf’s rent was $621.50 per month, $7,458 per year. There was also a $3 per square foot maintenance fee; the space is 678 square feet.
The Commons is owned by the city and operated by the city’s parks department. The redevelopment commission leases tenant spaces from The Commons Board and subleases them to tenants.
The commission approved a resolution in November of 2021 authorizing Devoar, LLC, doing business as Orange Leaf, to terminate its Commons lease effective at the end of 2021. According to commission attorney Stan Gamso, franchise owner Andy Russell had said the store still faced expenses despite its closure.
The center’s other interior restaurant tenant, Subway, began formal negotiations about ending its lease in January of 2021 and left in July, according to city officials.
The Commons was largely closed to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic, except as an event space. Orange Leaf and Subway have been closed since March of 2020 and were granted continuing rent relief by the commission due to their inability to open, as they have no external entrances (unlike Bucceto’s and Luciana’s). Commons Manager Shanda Sasse said in September that Orange Leaf was also waiting on a reopening date for the Commons indoor playground.
The newly-renovated James A. Henderson playground reopened in March after seeing project delays due to factors such as material and labor shortages.
