A family-owned urban winery offering a variety of wines in an elegant setting is coming to Downtown Hilliard next year.
Firefly Winery is expected to break ground on the 4,500-square-foot building at the corner of Grant and Franklin Streets this summer and open as soon as spring 2024.
The business will be owned by Jenny and Joe Hollabaugh, of Hilliard, who spent several years searching for the perfect Downtown Hilliard location before partnering with Hilliard-area developer, Westwood Collective.
Downtown Manager Angela Zody said she is excited for the partnership’s vision to come to life.
“Firefly Winery is a perfect addition to the existing vibrancy of Downtown Hilliard,” said Zody. “This will be yet another must-experience spot for residents and visitors not only during the summer months but throughout the entire year.”
Grapes will be sourced primarily from California for on-site winemaking and blending, said Jenny Hollabaugh. Wines ranging from dry to sweet reds and whites that are “high quality, but not pretentious” will be offered, as well as fruit wines, seasonal sangrias, and wine slushies.
There will also be an offering of small plates, such as charcuterie and Focaccia baked in a stone oven. Wine can be purchased by bottle or glass.
“We did a lot of research, and you really have to travel to another City to have a slightly more upscale experience with a glass of wine and charcuterie,” Jenny Hollabaugh said.
Because the winery will be located within the City of Hilliard’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), guests can walk throughout the area with their drink or enjoy it on-site at the bar or three-season covered patio.
“I’m excited for a fun to-go cup for wine slushies when you’re out at the splash pad or going to the concerts,” Jenny added.
This isn’t the couple’s first venture. They previously operated Indian Bear Winery in Knox County. Joe has been “in love with the art and science of making wine” for 20 years and served as a consultant in several other wine businesses.
Jenny grew up in Hilliard and graduated from Hilliard Davidson High School in 1994. She and Joe are also raising their three children in Hilliard and look forward to pursuing their wine passion close to family and friends.
“We’ve been able to experience first-hand the development that’s happened in Downtown Hilliard, and we wanted to be part of it,” she said.
In addition to the winery, Westwood Collective will develop an outdoor area on the property known as The Yard, described as a park-like setting with a pond, plenty of seating, and yard games. It will be located between Firefly Winery and The Junction.
Andy Warnock, Westwood Collective’s CEO, described the business venture as “the perfect marriage.”
“It’s no secret that corridor is a little tired, Some buildings need refreshed or razed for a better use, and I think this captures the essence,” he said.
The company, which has developed Hilliard projects including Legacy Smokehouse + Rickhouse 41, Westwood Fieldhouse, and the Shoppes by Westwood, seeks to “fill voids” within the community, Warnock noted.
“This will be a date night experience that adds to the synergy in Downtown,” he said. “We want to bring more vitality.”
He expects to experience the vitality first-hand.
“I will most definitely be a customer,” Warnock said, “but my wife might be more excited than me.”
