On Sunday, August 25th, 2024, I had the opportunity to visit the new food hall in the Grandview Crossing development, the Little Grand Market.

The Little Grand is the centerpiece of a new mixed-use development known developed by Thrive Communities.

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive about visiting (although I am always excited to check out new experiential food destinations). Based on photos I’ve seen online to this point, I was wondering if the food hall would have character to make it distinct to its area and neighborhood, or whether it would have a “basic trendy” aesthetic. I pick up on the “vibe” of a place pretty fast, so I knew I’d know pretty much upon arrival whether this presupposition was true.

In a way it feels premature to form an impression of this food hall simply because the Grandview Crossing development isn’t yet finished. Walking up to the development from Dublin Road I noticed that the project was oriented north; so I first saw the back. A prominent blue sign reading “Little Grand” stood out against the sky and I can imagine it will create a striking effect at night as we get into the fall. Bordering the main entrance to the food hall and common areas are active construction sites; so the true communal effect will likely  come later.

Walking inside Little Grand, I noticed right away that it had a bit of a vintage mall food court feel; but this isn’t a bad thing. I was reminded of visits to the Lane Avenue food court as a kid (RIP). I remember being enthralled by the atmosphere back then, and being intrigued by stuff in the corners; candy shops and a player piano. While The Little Grand doesn’t have a player piano, it does make use of nooks that you really have to be there to fully get. As someone hearing impaired, I’m naturally a bit more visual – even in loud environments where hearing others isn’t an issue (it certainly wasn’t here). There are many easter eggs of detail hidden throughout the establishment. They are often understated. I actually appreciated this. It was almost as if you wanted to do your own little scavenger hunt you could do so. But, in an already loud environment, softer tones keep this patron from being overstimulated.

I had a chicken quesadilla and a lime flavored Jarrito bottled soda from Los Agavez Taqueria. If you want my honest opinion, they were a little dry but overall not bad. I enjoyed the green sauce. But I’m not here to be a food critic (even if you’re here to learn about the food). The presentation was unsophisticated, as it should be in a food hall. You get your experiential quota from the environment itself and not whether the food is presented in an artisanal way.

Favorite features that folks might not notice at first:

• The painted video game loading bar symbol next to the fountain drinks
• The Grandview Heights, OH posters in the restroom hallway that look like concert flyers
• The neon sign in Bada Bean Dada Booze that reads, “We Don’t Gotta Worry Bada Thing, We Got It Covered”
• The succulent plants in the tables.

Follow The Little Grand Market on Instagram.