This is an artistic rendering of Trism, set to open at 1636 N. High St. this spring. Credit: Courtesy of Tim Lai

North High Street is set to welcome a new restaurant in the former Eddie George’s Grille 27 space this semester.

A&R Creative Group recently purchased the space at 1636 N. High St. and have started construction on Trism, a new fast-casual restaurant, bar and event space. The group already owns campus-area spots like Ethyl & Tank, Midway on High and Fourth Street Bar & Grill, as well as other businesses around Columbus.

Eddie George’s announced its move to Grandview Heights last January, after occupying  the space for more than 10 years.

Alexis Joseph, co-founder and director of business development and brand integrity for Alchemy Juice Bar + Café, said Trism is heavily inspired by Alchemy. She said it will have many staple menu items from Alchemy’s menu, focused on seasonal, local ingredients, made from scratch. But, unlike the juice bar, Trism will serve alcohol in the evenings. With the 6,500-square-foot space, she said they are looking forward to hosting events.

“Trism is going to be a very modern transformative space,” Joseph said. “There will be a lot of thoughtfully planned out events, whether it be a pop up farmer’s market, a yoga brunch, nighttime dancing … it will not be a sports bar, it will not have the perception that Eddie George’s did.”

Joseph and Abed Alshahal, both 2012 Ohio State graduates, founded Alchemy in the fall of 2014. Joseph studied dietetics and Alshahal studied nutrition. Noticing students making the trek to the Alchemy locations, Joseph said they had wanted to add one on campus but decided to tweak the idea when they secured the former Eddie George’s space.

Joseph said they had both been dreaming of providing more healthy options for students since they attended OSU, and things have now come full circle.

“A&R Creative Group is a highly sought after restaurateur with incredibly successful concepts in Columbus … We are so pleased they’ll be debuting a new 6,500 (square-foot) concept at a prominent Gateway location at the corner of High Street and Chittenden Avenue,” Beau Arnason, executive Vice President of Steiner & Associates, which manages the Gateway spaces, said in a statement.

Joseph described the price range of Trism as “approachable and affordable” for students. Definite hours have not been announced, but Joseph said Trism will be open late like other campus bars.

“I think really just focusing on taking the Alchemy mission and culture and taking that to new heights and having that presence on campus,” Joseph said. “Not just eating healthy food but other things that can influence you positively when it comes to lifestyle, and just having this open space for people, is what we’re excited about.”