The Florentine, the 70-year-old Franklinton restaurant that closed its doors last December, has been purchased and will find a new purpose by early next year. Fadi Michael, who owns Park Street Cantina, Short North’s Julep, as well as some residential and commercial real estate, has acquired the building with the intent of transforming it into a large scale night club and music venue. He’s expecting it to fill what he sees as an increasing need for evening entertainment in the area.

“Columbus is growing, and the night scene needs to grow as well,” Michael said. “As you attract more conventions and events to Columbus, you need those places, places that can hold 700 to 800 people.”

That’s about the capacity of the building, an 8,000 square foot space that’ll gain more square footage with the addition of an enclosed patio. While the exact name, concept and theme of the venue has yet to be determined, Michael said he’s putting between $1.5 and $2 million into the renovations, which he said will preserve the history of the building while bringing it up to code. More on the concept will be revealed in the next two to three months.

Michael said construction on the property would take between six and eight months. The Florentine building is located at 907 W. Broad Street.

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