10/18/2026
This vacant lot in Olde Towne East was once home to a legendary restaurant and a staple of Columbus’ live music scene ➡️
The Dell Restaurant opened across the street in 1925, run by Karl Tracht and his wife, Jessie. It was a neighborhood favorite, hosting lunch and dinner crowds as well as private parties and events.
In 1936, the Trachts expanded, opening “Karl’s Carryout” at this location. Two years later, they consolidated into this building alone – along with their home above the storefront, complete with a rooftop garden that Jessie especially loved.
The Dell was known for its desserts, including Dutch apple pie. In 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was passing through Columbus, and his hosts learned that apple pie was one of his favorites. They were directed to The Dell, where the Trachts served up three pies straight from the case. Eisenhower later sent a complimentary letter, which the couple proudly displayed in their pie case for years.
In 1968, The Dell closed, with promises to re-open. In 1974, they did: “The New Dell” served tapas and welcomed live music to the space, including local jazz artist Arnett Howard as a regular on the marquee. It later became the B Flat Lounge, then the Dell Café in 2004.
In 2005, it became Carabar, a live music venue and bar founded by Cara Borkes and Ron Barker. Beloved by local musicians and neighborhood locals, it quickly became a staple in the city’s rock music scene. Carabar welcomed touring artists like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Screaming Females, and Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass, as well as local acts like Saintseneca, Nick Tolford & Co., and New Bomb Turks, among many others.
In 2018, the building was demolished alongside the neighboring E.T. Paul Tire Company to make way for planned changes to the I-71 corridor.
📍 115 Parsons Ave.
