Mercantile, Vice President Clintoville, and Meals for you

Top of Mind

A Grand View of the Past (and Your Next Favorite Accessory) 

Since 1997, Grandview Mercantile has been the place in Columbus where the past isn’t just preserved, it’s proudly on display, for sale, and somehow still cooler than anything new. Founded by Sharon O’Brien, the store began in Grandview Heights before moving to the Short North in 2002. There, it helped define the neighborhood’s early character, becoming a go-to destination for designers, collectors, and anyone with an eye for pieces with a past.

In 2017, Grandview Mercantile returned home, this time to a 22,000-square-foot showroom that now holds court as the largest antique and fine home consignment showroom in the Midwest. Inside: 20 of central Ohio’s premier antique dealers, more than 700 consignors, and a constantly rotating cast of vintage furniture, rare art, luxury décor, and estate jewelry that feels like it was curated by your most tasteful great-aunt. The one with scandalous stories and incredible taste.

Which brings us to one of the store’s most enchanting discoveries yet.

During a recent estate liquidation, Grandview uncovered a massive and magical collection of vintage stickpins, over 1,500 of them, each one tested, categorized, and now gorgeously displayed inside a custom consignment cabinet (because of course they had one on hand). Known as the ancestor to enamel pins, stickpins were all the rage between the 1830s and 1920s. Originally used to hold men’s cravats in place, they soon became one of the most versatile and whimsical accessories in fashion history.

Skulls, scarabs, cameos, bugs, gemstones, luck charms, no motif was too bold, no symbolism too subtle. By the 1890s, everyone had one. And like so many trends, the first World War knocked them off the style map.

But now? They’re back. And Grandview’s Stickpin Revolution is leading the charge.

Crafted with care, full of personality, and often priced at $25 apiece, these tiny heirlooms are wearable art. Some are gold, some are costume, but all carry the kind of craftsmanship you don’t see in modern accessories. They’re jewelry you don’t need a special occasion to wear, just a lapel and a little bit of curiosity.

So whether you’re on the hunt for a rare dining set, a mid-century console, or a pin shaped like a tiny top hat, you’ll find something to love here. Because Grandview Mercantile isn’t just selling things, they’re curating a legacy.

And this latest chapter? It’s got sparkle, style, and a sharp point.

Scarlet Letter Trivia

Question: What Columbus-based pizza chain claims to have invented the square-cut, thin-crust “party cut” style?

A) Donatos
B) Masseys
C) Pizza Cottage
D) Tommys Pizza

Who Was Clinton of Clintonville?
And Did He Ever Even Visit?

Clintonville: a charming, tree-lined neighborhood on Columbus’ north side… named after a guy who never set foot in Ohio.

That guy? George Clinton. Not the Parliament-Funkadelic icon (though we’d argue he deserves a street), but the fourth Vice President of the United States, a Revolutionary War general, longtime governor of New York, and co-star in early American politics under Jefferson and Madison.

When Clinton Township was formed in the early 1800s, Ohioans, like many states, were still deep in their “let’s name things after national figures we’ve never met” phase. Clinton was a political celebrity at the time, so the township, and later, Clintonville, got his name. No visits, no ribbon cuttings, no selfies at Whetstone Park. Just good ol’ honorary naming rights.

The actual roots of Clintonville belong to settlers like Thomas Bull, a Methodist from Vermont who purchased land along High Street in 1813 and built a small intentional community of tradespeople. His ethos: build something lasting, share your skills, and contribute to the good of the neighborhood. (A refreshingly un-Twitter-like idea.)

By the mid-1800s, Clintonville had its own post office inside a rug shop, and by the early 1900s, it became a streetcar suburb, attracting academics, artists, and anyone seeking a quieter life outside the city center.

So the next time you’re sipping coffee in a Clintonville bungalow or biking along the Olentangy Trail, remember: it’s named after a guy who was all politics, no Columbus, but still managed to leave his mark on a place he never saw.

Now that’s legacy.

Farm-Fueled, Faith-Filled, and Meal-Prepped to Win: The Visionary Meals Story

Before it was Columbus’ go-to for farm-fresh, locally sourced, chef-prepared meals, Visionary Meals was just a college football player’s side hustle. Picture this: a sociology major at Wittenberg University, juggling classes, championships, and Tupperware. That’s Josh, founder, athlete, and accidental entrepreneur, who started prepping meals because he didn’t have time not to.

Turns out, neither does anyone else.

In 2018, Josh took his love of nutrition and time-saving logic back to his family farm in Granville, Ohio, and built something bigger than a business, he built a mission. Visionary Meals isn’t just about the macros. It’s a faith-based company grounded in empathy, grace, and the belief that what you put into your body matters just as much as the people standing behind it.

Now serving thousands across central Ohio and beyond, Visionary Meals delivers weekly chef-curated meals to local pickup spots, no shopping, no chopping, no excuses. And while yes, it’s convenient, what makes Visionary different is its roots. Everything is sourced from Ohio farms when possible. Every dish is built with intention. And every bite is a quiet reminder that someone’s looking out for your well-being, even on the busiest week of your life.

What started as a couple of containers in a dorm fridge has grown into a full-blown movement. Visionary isn’t selling products, they’re selling peace of mind, one lemon pepper chicken and sweet potato mash at a time.

Hungry yet?

Check out Visionary Meals to browse the weekly menu and see what all the buzz

Trivia Answer:

B) Masseys Pizza claims to have invented the superior square Columbus cut