Kenny Centre — Attraction in Columbus

NOTE: Japanese Marketplace part of the center, especially Tensuké Market is super packed on weekends * Hours are consistent with typical operating schedules for similar businesses.

Can't say enough about this somewhat unknown plaza! The DMV was my introduction, Indian food brought me back, and subsequent exploration led me to Tensuké, which has been there for as long as I've been going there. There are SO MANY surprising & unique places to visit here!!

Myself, I'm most familiar with the Japanese Marketplace section (facing Henderson in the northwest corner of the center's layout) has a grocer (Tension Market) full of authentic products from fresh produce & seafoods, packaged food/condiments, kitchen implements, health & beauty products, bento boxes made fresh in-house, and a variety of saki to packaged candies, snacks & novelties.

To the left facing the mkt is a couple of eateries: just behind Staples* (*facing Kenny at northeast corner) lies their formal dining establishment (presumably with table service - I haven't been yet) and between it and the market, is smaller & informal with orders taken at the counter & some seating for diners. It may be called Tensuké Sushi? One or both restaurants share the name in common with the mkt. Regardless, I have been there & enjoyed it, though I can't recall what I had. Both eateries offer sushi, to my knowledge.

A corridor next to the mkt (to right of entrance) contains a pedestrian boulevard, with sidewalks on either side of a strip of green. I think there are benches?? Follow it parallel to Kenny rd further in, toward the rest of the Kenny Center and you'll find J Avenue gifts & collections; there's plenty of key chains, anime gear, lucky cat & all sorts of other nick-nacks, health & beauty products & implements, origami related items, dishes & kitchen implements, stationary & pens, and other stuff you didn't realize that you need! The staff are great; they will even contact you upon arrival of a product you wanted if it's out of stock!

Across the park-like boulevard thing, there's a coffee house & Belle's Bakery. They are a place you'll want to go a minimum of once per year! More frequently if you are nearby!!

IDK all of the businesses, but I've used the DMV there for decades, to my satisfaction.

I haven't been to all of the stores & such: not even close! I do know that there has always been an Indian restaurant in the Kenny Center, but I'm not sure whether or not I've eaten in the current incarnation.

The last time I walked around to get up to speed on the current tenants' establishments, it seems like many store fronts (around 5? All stores were closed at the time) were in the process of being prepared for their grand openings. The variety of businesses is eclectic & their total number is larger, due to the layout of the buildings. There are bars (at least two - maybe more), which I've never visited & other interesting looking places that sparked my curiosity like a record store if memory serves me correctly (??). There's a Pepridge Farms outlet store if you like their stuff. There was a used instrument store but I can't recall if it's still there.

I definitely recommend taking a stroll around to assess what is currently operating there, since some businesses will come & go. Check the hours of operation for those you want to check out but are closed or you can't visit just then.

It's worth a drive from wherever you live, honestly! If you're from out of town, find an activity in Columbus you have to do and incorporate a side destination; yeah I do know that it is a shopping center! Definitely grab a tea or coffee & some of Belle's pastries if they're open; it's not cheap but they are low on sugar & unhealthy ingredients and they're all edible works of art!! Simply a must try!

I'm truly grateful for how (whomever owns) the Kenny Center has managed it, and for my favorite businesses having a place to prosper, expand, invite friends to open up shops; whatever you've been doing, keep it up! My interest in maintaining regular visits has only grown...

Belle's Bakery is amazing (fresh daily French style pastries, some with a Japanese twist) and Tensuke Market has a great selection of Japanese foods. If you want prepared ready to eat Japanese foods they have good quality at decent prices but the selection shrinks dramatically by early afternoon. They replenish the sushi, but not other things like rice triangles - once the flavor you want runs out, it's gone for the day!

I used to strongly recommend Tensuke for their sushi, but it's gotten expensive, they don't use real Wasabi, and the cuts of tuna they use, while still fresh, are just not as good as they used to be.

There's also a Pepperidge Farm...

I love the Japanese market section of the Kenny Centre. The supermarket called Tensuke brought back so many warm memories of my time I spent in Japan. Also my Wife is Japanese and this is the first authentic Japanese market she has ever experienced in America. The prices for the market are a little high, but I imagine that is because just about everything in there is imported.

surrounding the market there is a Japanese bakery, a gift shop, and several restaurants. All authentic Japanese cuisine and items.

If you're Japanese and married to someone Japanese and live in Ohio, you...