3 updates on new businesses at Liberty Center

AC Hotel by Marriott Cincinnati and gourmet burger and craft beer restaurant Flip Side are two of the latest tenant openings helping to fill up the first phase of the approximately $350 million Liberty Center development, where just over 1 million-square-feet of mixed office, retail and residential space was built on about 65 acres.

Following the grand opening last fall of Liberty Center in Butler County, the mega retail complex is seeing its next wave of tenant openings this year.

Liberty Center’s October 2015 opening at the intersection of Ohio 129, Liberty Way and Interstate 75 fulfilled more than five years of planning, design and construction. It is believed to be one of the largest developments in Butler County history with the potential to create about 3,500 new full- and part-time jobs once full occupancy is reached by 2018, according to local government officials.

Primary developer Steiner + Associates owns more land for future phases of development, as well as more room within the existing phase to build infill development.

Anchors Dillard's department store and Dick's Sporting Goods were the first to open doors at the center last fall, followed by an Oct. 22 grand opening that saw more retailers open for customers. Cobb Liberty Luxury 15 and CineBistro movie theaters, restaurant Pies & Pints, Funny Bone Comedy Club and Restaurant, and more have opened since then.

Here are three updates on new tenant openings:

1. AC Hotel celebrates opening

The 130-room AC Hotel Cincinnati at Liberty Center celebrated Tuesday its opening at the retail and office development off Liberty Way.

It is the first AC-branded hotel by Marriott to open in Ohio. Since the doors officially opened to guests Feb. 2, General Manager Barry Kuhnke said the new hotel nearly sold out Valentine's Day weekend and could approach a sellout of rooms again this weekend as customers see what the new European-influenced brand has to offer.

As the first Ohio AC Hotel brand and the first in the U.S. to be built from the ground up instead of renovated, Kuhnke said, “we get to help create the brand standards.”

Marriott International and European hotelier Antonio Catalan partnered on a joint venture and launched the brand in 2011.

2. New burger restaurant Flip Side now open

Chef-driven burger and beer restaurant Flip Side opened Tuesday at Liberty Center, marking the Cleveland-area based food chain's sixth Ohio location and first in the Greater Cincinnati market, said co-founder Shawn Monday.

About eight staff members from Cleveland are in Butler County this week to help train the 40 or so new workers hired to open the Liberty Center restaurant located at 7622 Blake Street, Monday said.

“We want to make a great impression,” he said.

Monday, his wife and co-founder Tiffany Monday, and business partner Michael Schwartz partnered to start the restaurant about five years ago.

The gourmet burger restaurant, previously featured on the Cooking Channel show "Unique Eats," focuses on locally-sourced ingredients and homemade dishes. Not a beef-eater? Flip Side also features milkshakes, salads, sides and other sandwiches such as chicken, fish, lamb, bison and veggie options, Monday said.

Additionally, there are as many as 60 craft beers for diners to choose from at a given time. That includes about 20 beers such as Rivertown Brewing of Lockland on tap and more bottle selections, said General Manager Donnie Hinken. Flip Side also serves craft cocktails and its liquor options have an Ohio spin such as the drink called Ohio Mule made with Dayton-based Buckeye Vodka, Hinken said.

Some of Monday's and Hinken's menu favorites are the namesake Shawn's Burger topped with fried egg, bacon and spicy pickles; The Californian Turkey burger with sprouts; and a new menu item of spinach salad with bacon, wild mushrooms and an egg with yolk, they said.

Reach the restaurant at 513-777-6328.

3. Businesses now hiring ahead of opening dates

Northstar Café is conducting open interviews ahead of its Cincinnati market debut at Liberty Center and has about 90 job openings, including positions in service, culinary and management, said Matt LaGrow, senior managing partner for the restaurant.

Job seekers can get more information and apply online at www.TheCafeisComing.com. They can also meet the restaurant's management team and apply in person between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays on the second level of the Foundry building, the enclosed mall at Liberty Center, located at 7100 Foundry Row. Northstar Café is interviewing candidates in Suite 290, which is located next to the Old Navy store.

The restaurant’s three Columbus-area locations are known for weekend brunch and a homemade menu with bakery items, egg dishes and other breakfast fare. It’s most popular times are breakfast and lunch, but Northstar also has a dinner menu featuring thin crust pizzas, sandwiches and bowls, LaGrow said.

Founded in 2004, Northstar Cafe will open at Liberty Center near the intersection of Foundry Row and Sloan Way, which will be the growing chain’s fourth restaurant, he said.

Additionally, Swedish fashion retailer H&M is also hiring for its Liberty Center store set to open this spring, according to signage posted at the store. The company is seeking managers, merchandisers and sales advisors according to the sign. Apply online at career.hm.com.

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