Historic Mount Vernon News Building Begins New Chapter as Founders Food Hall Opens

Redevelopment transforms iconic property into mixed-use hub featuring dining, offices and advanced university labs

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 30, 2026 - For more than 80 years, the Mount Vernon News building told the story of Knox County. Its next chapter is about bringing people together.

The historic building at 18 E. Vine St. has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use destination featuring dining, modern office space and a new home for Mount Vernon Nazarene University's engineering and technology programs. Supported by a $1 million Vibrant Community Grant from JobsOhio, the redevelopment represents a major investment in downtown Mount Vernon and a model for how communities can preserve their history while building for the future.

Originally constructed in 1939 in an art deco style following the merger of The Republican News and The Daily Banner, the building served as the home of the locally owned Mount Vernon News until 2020, at which time the property sat vacant in the center of downtown before being acquired by the Knox County Land Bank for redevelopment.

The revitalized 13,571-square-foot building now houses Founders Food Hall, a first-of-its-kind concept for Knox County featuring seven kitchens, duckpin bowling, a bar and shared gathering spaces. The food hall was designed to give entrepreneurs a place to launch and grow restaurant concepts before expanding into standalone locations throughout the community. Six vendors have already signed on, bringing a diverse mix of cuisines and experiences to downtown Mount Vernon.

The project also includes office space for Sponsler Automotive's accounting department and Otto Insurance Group, along with state-of-the-art facilities for Mount Vernon Nazarene University focused on engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, networking and virtual reality. The university's new space is designed to prepare students for careers in some of Ohio's fastest-growing industries and strengthen the talent pipeline for the Region.

"We never wanted to simply renovate an old building," said Sam Filkins, president of the Knox County Land Bank. "We wanted to create a place people would talk about, a place where entrepreneurs could take risks and a place that would draw energy back into downtown. The early excitement around Founders Food Hall tells us we're on the right track, and I believe the impact of this project will exceed anything we imagined when we started."

The project was originally slated to create 25 new jobs, though community leaders expect that figure to grow substantially.

"Projects like this turn quality of place into an economic asset," said Jonas Peterson, chief economic development officer and president of One Columbus. "It gives Mount Vernon new energy, supports entrepreneurs and strengthens the kind of downtown experience that helps attract talent and investment. Those are the building blocks of long-term prosperity."

The Vibrant Community Grant program was created by JobsOhio to help communities pursue catalytic projects that improve quality of life, attract talent and strengthen local economies.

"Vibrant Community projects are about more than bricks and mortar. They are about helping communities create places where people want to live, gather and invest in the future," said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. "The transformation of this historic building preserves an important part of Mount Vernon's identity while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, students and residents."

"We are all in when it comes to Knox County, and it was important to us to show that commitment with this investment in downtown," said Mark Otto, president of Otto Insurance Group. "Towns that have a thriving downtown become places people want to live and work. This space creates a destination that benefits the community, and we are proud to be part of that."

The redevelopment aligns with long-term community goals to strengthen downtown Mount Vernon, encourage infill development and create vibrant spaces that connect neighborhoods, businesses and public gathering places.

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About the Columbus Partnership
The Columbus Partnership brings together civic-minded business leaders to advance a shared vision to make Columbus the most prosperous region in the country. Columbus Partnership member CEOs are committed to the future of the Columbus metropolitan area through high-impact civic and philanthropic engagement. Through our One Columbus and Smart Columbus brands and investor support, our team works to help create jobs and attract capital investment, expand access to opportunity, and improve the economic competitiveness of the Columbus Region. Learn more at columbusregion.com.

About JobsOhio
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio through Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with seven regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River, Ohio Southeast, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.