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Photos of this event - click here
What is expected to become a monthly social event for members and guests of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter got off to a rousing start at Gibby’s in the Arena District August 16 with more than 35 persons enjoying an evening of food, fun, and frolic.
The event, New Members Social Hour, open to all members and their guests, was put together by Stephan Cooke and Bret Frangos.
Cort Furniture Rental, Frangos’ company served as sponsor, providing a “buffet” of appetizers, pizza, and finger foods, three door prizes for “fish bowl drawings,” and a great opportunity for greeting new and old members as well as a number of individuals who expressed interest in joining the chapter.
Cooke described the evening as “an occasion to get facility managers out of their offices and buildings and to bring potentials to the organization.” He thanked Cort Furniture for its participation and for also providing:
Cooke said the idea is to combine a social event with as many other monthly programs as possible. On October 22, chapter members and guests will tour the former Downtown Lazarus Building and then retire to Gibby’s for a social hour or two.
The tour will begin at 3 p.m., and this “second night” at Gibby’s sponsored by T.W. Ruff, will get underway at 4:30 p.m.
The Lazarus building, once the premier shopping mecca in central Ohio, has been under going extensive renovation since Federated Department Stores Inc. closed the store and donated the property to a partnership formed by the City of Columbus and the Columbus Downtown Development Corp.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has occupied about 200,000 square feet of the building since 1998, and will be joined in January by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The Ohio State University College of the Arts said it plans to lease space near Town and High streets for galleries and an arts incubator that will involve students, faculty, and alumni.
Renovation and occupancy of the building is expected to give impetus to redevelopment of other parts of a 23-block area known as RiverSouth.