Enas Caribbean Kitchen Forms Alliance to Bring Business Back to Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, Ohio – For over 25 years, Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen has been a cornerstone in Columbus’ Linden neighborhood, serving up authentic Jamaican cuisine with heart and heritage. Now, the beloved family-owned restaurant is stepping into a new role: helping shape the future of Cleveland Avenue’s economic revival.
Owner Marlon Hayles remembers when business was booming—especially on Columbus Crew game days. “People came through Linden, they stopped in, and we were packed,” he said. But ever since the Crew moved downtown in 2021, foot traffic has declined significantly.
In response to growing economic gaps in the area, the City of Columbus formed the Linden Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) in late 2023. This initiative aims to attract new businesses to Cleveland Avenue, a vital corridor long under-served in retail and food options.
“We discovered huge retail shortages when we reassessed the OneLinden Plan,” said De Lena Scales, the city’s neighborhood liaison. “We need places people can walk to—coffee shops, salons, grocery stores—and we need anchor businesses like Ena’s to help lead the way.”
Hayles welcomes the initiative and stresses the importance of collaboration. “It can’t just be one or two businesses standing alone,” he said. “We need others around us to create a real destination for locals and visitors.”
Scales echoes that sentiment. “Ena’s stayed when others left. They wear Linden proudly, and they’re essential to this comeback story.”
As Cleveland Avenue prepares for a new era, partnerships like this one signal a brighter, more vibrant future for Linden—and a renewed spotlight on long-standing local gems like Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen.
Follow Dalmar TV on Facebook for the Latest News
