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Parking, Playboy, and Products (Well Testing Them)
Airport Updates, Bunny Club, Test Market CBUS
The Scarlet Letter
January 13, 2025
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Top of Mind
John Glenn’s Parking Puzzle: Construction Chaos Hits the Airport
Flying out of John Glenn International? Pack your bags, and your patience, because getting to the terminal just got trickier. With the airport’s $2 billion terminal project in full swing, new traffic and parking changes are here to keep you on your toes or your brakes.
Starting Monday, eastbound traffic on International Gateway will funnel into two lanes past the red lot before opening up near the terminal. Meanwhile, the cell phone lot has a new home behind the John Glenn International sign, accessible from either direction but exiting only eastward. Consider it a high-stakes game of directional roulette.
Did yall see this movie? It got some hate, but I dug it :)
If you’re looking for a free option (and who isn’t?), the green lot lets you park for up to an hour without spending a dime. But don’t zoom through the work zone; speed limits east of Stelzer Road are now a leisurely 25 mph, perfect for soaking in the construction vibes.
This shuffle comes after last month’s blue lot closure, which the airport tried to soften by adding 2,550 spots to the red lot. All these changes are leading up to a gleaming new terminal with 36 gates and room for 13 million passengers, set to debut in 2029. That’s right, four years of construction chaos for what we hope will be a smoother flying experience. Until then, good luck navigating the parking puzzle.
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Bunny Ears on Broad: Columbus’ Playboy Club Era
In the early 1980s, Columbus, Ohio, played host to an unexpected slice of glamour when Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Club opened its doors at 3540 East Broad Street, right across from the legendary Kahiki Supper Club. Today, we’re diving into another whacky bar from Columbus’ past, one where bunny ears and red carpets briefly collided with Midwest charm.
The Columbus Playboy Club was more than just a bar; it was a spectacle. Bunnies like “Candie” and “Stevie” descended a grand red-carpeted staircase from the Bunny Room to the Cabaret Room, serving drinks with the perfected “bunny dip” technique. It was a chance for locals to rub elbows with the glamour of Hefner’s empire, albeit in the heart of Ohio.
Getting into that iconic bunny suit was no easy feat. Over 3,000 women auditioned to be part of the club’s opening team, enduring an eight-week training program designed to perfect their poise, charm, and serving skills. Only 30 were selected, including women like Cheryl Hill-Gallucci, who described her time at the club as both thrilling and formative.
The club even dabbled in a few experiments. In 1983, it introduced a short-lived “guys night” featuring male servers, which was so unpopular that Columbus Monthly awarded it the "Worst New Idea" of the year. The bunnies, naturally, reclaimed their spotlight.
Despite its short three-year run, closing in 1985, the Columbus Playboy Club left a curious mark on the city. For some, it was a glamorous escape. For others, it was a symbol of moral controversy. Either way, it remains a fascinating relic of a bygone era.
New Years Eve set up at the club (photo from Columbus library)
As British novelist L.P. Hartley once said, “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” How true that feels when reflecting on a time when bunny ears and red carpets brought a touch of Hollywood to the heart of Columbus.
(photo from Columbus library)
Scarlet Letter Trivia
Question: How many national championships has Ohio State won in football?
A) 5
B) 12
C) 7
D) 8
Columbus: The City That Ate It First
When companies want to know if their latest product will become a smash hit or a national embarrassment, they turn to Columbus, Ohio. Dubbed “Test City, USA,” our city has been the proving ground for everything from fast-food experiments to dissolvable tobacco mints (yes, really). If it flies in Columbus, there’s a good chance it’ll work anywhere.
Why Columbus?
Columbus offers the perfect mix of demographics, geography, and affordability. Our population is like a miniature version of America: diverse, young, educated, and eager to try new things. Thanks to institutions like The Ohio State University and over 50 other campuses, Columbus boasts one of the highest concentrations of millennials in the country. Add to that the city’s growing economy, low cost of living, and high quality of life, and you’ve got a population willing and financially able to experiment.
But it’s not just about who’s here; it’s about where we are. Nearly half the U.S. population lives within a 10-hour drive of Columbus, making it a logistical dream for companies rolling out products post-testing. And with ad rates far cheaper than in places like New York or Chicago, brands can test their ideas without blowing their marketing budget.
What’s Been Tested Here?
Wendy’s, headquartered in nearby Dublin, has been treating Columbus like its personal playground for decades. Spicy nuggets, pretzel buns, new restaurant layouts—you name it, we’ve tried it. McDonald’s introduced the Sriracha Big Mac and Chicken McGriddle here, while Burger King gave us the Game Day Pretzel Whopper. Even Victoria’s Secret, which also calls Columbus home, has used the city to test revamped store designs.
Of course, not every test is a success. The infamous Qube TV? Tried here. Dissolvable tobacco mints? Yep, that too. But that’s the beauty of Columbus: it’s a safe space for brands to flop, tweak, and try again. We do the heavy lifting so the rest of the country doesn’t have to suffer through “meh” products.
The Changing Landscape
While Columbus remains a heavyweight in the test market world, other cities like Albany, New York, have started stealing the spotlight. Still, Columbus holds strong in categories like fast food, where our diverse taste buds and late-night drive-thru runs make us the ideal audience.
And it’s not just about the products—it’s about the process. As Ohio State marketing expert Neeli Bendapudi explains, test markets like Columbus allow companies to see how products perform in the wild, using real dollars and real feedback. It’s not a focus group; it’s a full-scale dress rehearsal. If something flops here, brands know they’ve got work to do before going nationwide.
Why It Matters
Being a test market is more than just a quirky badge of honor—it’s a testament to Columbus’s importance as a cultural and economic hub. Our city isn’t just another stop on the map; it’s where trends are born, ideas are refined, and the future is decided. So next time you see a “new and improved” product on the shelf or bite into a limited-edition burger, just remember: Columbus probably tried it first.
And if you’re wondering what’s next, the answer is simple: anything and everything. Whether it’s fast food, fashion, or the next big thing in dissolvable tobacco (please, no), Columbus is ready to taste, test, and take the lead.
Trivia Answer:
D) 8 championships and one more on the way!
@patmcafeeshowofficial JACK SAWYER GIMME THAT HE SCOOPS AND HE SCORES @Ohio State Football #PMSCFPESPN2 #GoBucks #jacksawyer #ohiostate #ohiostatefootball #ohi... See more
Ryan Day runs funny, See ya next week.
