Moving to a new place is exhausting: putting all your life in boxes, changing your mailing address everywhere, saying good-bye to your neighbors and friends, and getting ready to meet new people and places. It all takes a lot of time and energy, so before moving out to a new place, the least one should do is to be familiar with the neighborhood you will be moving to. Here are 25 facts and curiosities about Merion Village that make this neighborhood a great place to live. 

The History

In 1809, the original Merion family first settled in Columbus. A few years later, they realized how canals were opening new markets for the farmers in other parts of Ohio. So William Merion took the opportunity to develop a port of entry to the local canals: “Merion’s Landing.” The history of Merion Village started with the desire of a family to have a better life. 

An educated community

30% of Merion Village´s residents have a Bachelor’s Degree, and 19% of them earned a Master’s Degree or a higher education level. This is an educated community with professionals in different fields. It’s good to be surrounded by informed and educated residents!

Good Neighbor Agreements

The Merion Village Association works very closely with residents and local businesses to establish mature and peaceful agreements with the goal of having a nice and collaborative environment where both parties feel satisfied and benefited. Any specific issues can be addressed with these agreements to make sure all concerns are heard and all problems can be solved.

A three bedroom home in Merion Village with big windows that illuminate the rooms with natural light. Image Courtesy of Airbnb.

Real Estate

In Merion Village, you will find a home for sale or rent that you love. You will find simple houses for one person to more equipped homes with 3 or 4 bedrooms. Whichever kind of house you are looking for, chances are you’ll find one you love in Merion Village!

Loyal Residents

Many people have spent their entire lives living in Merion Village. This gives you an idea of how happy they are in this little neighborhood! Some of the residents have roots that go back to two or even four generations!

The Winter Potluck

Every December, many of the residents of Merion Village gather together to share a meal, just in time for the holidays. Sadly, due to the pandemic, the potluck is not happening this year. However, there will be a community cookbook where residents share some of their favorite recipes with everybody! There are recipes that families have followed for generations, or maybe there are some experiments that someone tried during quarantine, and they came out great.

Moeller Park

This park is in the heart of Merion Village, and it has 1.90 acres of green grass and plants. A beautiful place to have fun in the sun, feel the freshness of the air, and play with the kids or friends. There is also a playground, a walking trail, and enough space and facilities to have a picnic!

Education

If you are thinking of moving to Merion Village and you have kids, you are probably looking for   a place where your kids will receive a proper education, and that is fair. The Columbus Alternative High School is ranked as one of the best high schools in Ohio, and it is only minutes away from Merion Village. Columbus North International School is another one with great recognition as there are many ESL students who feel confident at this school. Your kids will receive the education they deserve!

Employment

Now that you found a place for your kids to learn and grow up as educated adults, the next goal is to find a job. Fortunately, there are quite a few major companies in Columbus that require workers from different fields and backgrounds. 

The Thurman Cafe

183 Thurman Ave, Columbus, OH 43206 +1 614-443-1570 thethurmancafe.com

The place that saw the Thurmanator Challenge being born is in Merion Village, Ohio! This restaurant has internet-famous hamburgers that are as big as your face and as memorable as your favorite hamburger. Here´s what the Thurmanator burger has: A bottom bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, banana peppers, a 12-ounce burger, cheddar, bacon, another 12-ounce burger!, sautéed onions & mushrooms, ham, mozzarella & American cheese, and a top bun. Just that! There are other famous burgers that are not as big as the Thurmanator but still very good, like the Western burger with bacon, cheddar, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. This will be one of your favorite places if you decide to move to Merion Village!

Being in Columbus

Being part of a big city like Columbus, Ohio, is a benefit in many different ways. In entertainment, most artists and singers visit Columbus at least once during a tour. And you will find a diversity of activities and exhibitions going on at different times of the year.

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

1777 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43203 | +1 614-715-8000 | fpconservatory.org

Plants have many different benefits in our lives. They clean the air, they bring us joy, they make our meals tastier, and they are part of our world. This place illustrates the importance of these plants. With temporary exhibitions like Holiday Blooms (November 14, 2020, to January 10, 2021) that bring together seasonal plants together, this is a great place to visit by yourself or with your friends and family.

National Veterans Memorial and Museum

300 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215 | +1 888-987-6866 | nationalvmm.org

The idea of honoring courageous Americans who have served this country is prevalent from coast to coast. This museum displays photographs, paintings, illustrations, relevant information, and objects from veterans of different times in history. This “home of the brave,” receives hundreds of tourists every year as it is a family-friendly and inspiring place that will teach you a little bit more about America’s history.

Home for Singles and Couples

It tends to be depressing for single folks to move to a neighborhood with mostly married couples who have kids and live together as a family. Everybody has their own path, and Merion Village residents know it. 37.44% of the residents have never been married, and 28.13% are married. You will see a balance of singles, married couples, divorced folks, and widowed residents. Regardless of who you are and who you are coming with, there is a home for you in Merion Village!

The Southbend Tavern

126 E Moler St, Columbus, OH 43207 |  +1 614-444-3386 |  southbendtavern.com/

This wonderful place is a great option to spend a Saturday night. There are drag shows, karaoke nights, drinks, and a great environment where people of all ages have a great time. The owners and bartenders are welcoming, and it’s worth checking out the shows!

Great location 

Merion Village is a small neighborhood that is only minutes away from Downtown Columbus and a couple of hours away from other major cities like Cincinnati and Cleveland. These are great options for a quick field trip over the weekends!

Nightlife

When the night falls, the day is not entirely over. There are still fun things to do. In Merion Village, there is a variety of bars, night clubs, and discos.

Support to Local Businesses

Now more than ever, it is very important that we support the local businesses around us. Merion Village takes this support to another level! The Business Development Association works very closely with local businesses in and around this neighborhood to create strong relationships that will help to support each other. Any resident who owns or operates a local business can be part of this association and get the support of other residents who happen to be entrepreneurs as well!

Hey Hey Bar & Grill

361 E Whittier St Columbus, OH 43206 | (614) 445-9512 | heyheybarandgrillcolumbus.cafecityguide.website/

Back in the Prohibition days of 1919, the people who delivered beer in a clandestine way would announce: Hey, hey, the beer is here! And that’s where the name of this place comes from. This cozy bar with music and a great variety of drinks is a great place to meet your friends after work, have a beer, and try a sandwich, a burger, or an appetizer. 

Notes

Described as possibly the best place to listen to jazz in Columbus. There are different performers most of the time, and very often, they will fundraise money for special causes like homelessness or education. After you listen to wonderful live music, you can enjoy dinner at the great place upstairs called Copious, where you can enjoy a glass of wine to conclude your dinner in a delightful way.

The Center of Science and Industry 

333 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215 | +1 614-228-2674 | cosi.org

For 55 years, this center has shown all of central Ohio the very best of science, technology, engineering, and math. This place that attracts hundreds of people from different ages and backgrounds every year has a 320,000 square feet facility with nine galleries, more than 300 interactive spaces, live shows, permanent exhibition, and a special section for little kids that includes a Planetarium. This fabulous place will show you many interesting facts about science and technology, and it is only minutes away from Merion Village!

Bake me Happy

106 E Moler St, Columbus, OH 43207 | +1 614-477-3642 |  bakemehappygf.com/

In the United States, there are about 18 million people with gluten sensitivity. And the number keeps growing constantly. So there are many people out there who know the struggle of finding decent food that is gluten-free. All of the pastries that you will find at the Bake me Happy bakery are gluten-free. 

The idea of Letha Pugh, the co-founder, is to make pastries that are fun, colorful, and as fabulous as those kids with a great charm, who tend to feel excluded at school’s potlucks or family gatherings because they cannot eat what is on the table for the rest of the guests. You can find these pastries at the bakery, or at certain retail stores around the area. 

The Merion Village Festival

Every second Sunday in September, the biggest celebration in Merion Village takes place. This festival celebrates and recognizes artists, crafters, organizations, and local artists from the community. It is a great celebration that brings residents together and supports the efforts of family-owned businesses around the area. 

Merion Village Art Walk

This is one of the oldest areas in Columbus; you will see gorgeous buildings by famous local architects, historic small businesses, and even pre-Civil War trees! Merion Village is a neighborhood full of rich history, and you will find something new and interesting in every corner of this famous walk. 

Village Tacos

1297 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43206 | +1 614-869-0018 | thejointcolumbus.com

You cannot move to a new neighborhood without knowing if there is good food around it. So yes, there is really good food in Merion Village and one of the best places to find it is called Village Tacos. Here, you will find a diverse menu of authentic Mexican food prepared by hard working and knowledgeable people who are passionate about Mexican cuisine. Order your delicious tacos with fresh vegetables and a refreshing margarita to live the full experience. You can call ahead, order online, or take out your order. You are going to love it!

“There’s no place like home,” said Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. And the truth is, home is where you and your beloved ones are. Regardless of the house or apartment, you end up moving in, it’s up to you to make this new place a home where you want to be and where you will continue to grow and live a wonderful life. Good luck!