The Little Grand Market brings together great food, good people, and the everyday rhythm of community. It is a space built to feel warm, inviting, and fully alive.

I joined this project before anything existed besides a construction site and an idea. I learned the space from the ground up. I understood the limitations, the possibilities, and the personality the building wanted to have. From there, I guided the entire brand, design, and marketing journey.

I built the brand from scratch with Andrew Kern of Flat Black Commercial Visuals, and defined the feeling we wanted people to have the moment they walked inside. I shaped the spatial direction. I selected the furniture, the materials, and the FF&E. I directed the signage, the vendor identities, the physical menus in the space, the wayfinding, and every in-market touchpoint. We created the tone of voice, the brand moments, and the story the market would tell. I also developed the marketing plan, the digital and social direction, the PR themes, and the early event strategy. I carried the full experience through to launch.

I made sure every detail, large and small, supported the warm and communal energy we wanted the market to have. I stayed close through construction, design, vendor onboarding, marketing, and operations. I oversaw the work from the earliest site conversations to the final approvals. I held the creative vision through every stage until the doors opened and the market came to life. We launched with a community of more than ten thousand Instagram followers and a full CRM system that allowed us to maintain momentum, track engagement, and build long-term loyalty from day one.

My Role

My responsibilities covered every part of the guest experience from the physical environment to the digital presence. I shaped the vision, directed the execution, and guided the launch strategy that introduced The Little Grand Market to the community.

Defined the vision for the entire project and set the overall feel, personality, and emotional tone. Guided creative decisions across design, environment, digital, and operations.
Created the brand from the ground up including identity, color, typography, personality, and the emotional experience. Established the story people would feel when they entered the space.
Led spatial planning and collaborated with construction partners to understand layout possibilities. Selected more than one hundred pieces of furniture and FF&E that shaped the warmth, comfort, and flow of the market.
Directed signage, menus, vendor brand identities, wayfinding, and all in-market touchpoints. Ensured consistency across more than ten independent food and beverage partners.
Designed apparel, retail items, and display strategies. Created merchandise that extended the brand beyond the walls of the market and built early loyalty and recognition.
Created the digital approach including social content direction, campaign creative, and community engagement. Built an online audience of more than ten thousand people before launch.
Developed the full marketing rollout. Shaped PR angles, messaging, and timing to build anticipation and secure early traction with local media and community partners.
Designed and produced events and opening week programming. Created community moments that brought visitors into the space and supported repeat engagement.
Supported onboarding and brand alignment across all vendors. Ensured each stall had a distinct identity while still feeling united within the overall market experience.
Built a CRM system that captured early interest before doors opened. Created workflows for guest engagement, updates, and return visits.

The Work!

1. Starting With the Brand

The work began with defining the heart of Little Grand. I built the brand’s purpose, personality, and emotional tone before any visual decisions were made. This foundation guided every choice across design, marketing, and operations.

2. Designing a Space People Want to Stay In

With multiple vendors, two bars, patios, and layered seating, the environment needed to feel natural and comfortable. I curated furniture, materials, lighting, and layout choices to create a space where people naturally settle in. The flow, textures, and seating helped create a market that feels lived-in and flexible.

3. Bringing the Brand to Life Across Every Touchpoint

Every detail was designed to support warmth and connection. I directed bar identities, menu systems, signage, and environmental moments that make the market recognizable without feeling overly designed. I shaped the tone of voice and brand moments that add charm and personality throughout the space.

4. Marketing, Community, and Launch

I guided the social direction, digital campaigns, PR stories, and event programming that introduced Little Grand to Columbus. The launch felt like an open invitation for the community and helped position the market as a vibrant and welcoming destination.

Results and Impact

Little Grand Market quickly became one of the most-visited destinations in Columbus. Guests return not only for the food and drinks but for the feeling of the space. The warmth, the flow, the design choices, the events, and the digital presence all work together. Because the brand was built holistically from construction to launch, the experience feels cohesive, intentional, and effortless.

Little Grand feels like it has always belonged in the neighborhood, which is the strongest sign of a brand that resonates.