Columbus has a new reason to dress up for a night out.
The Snowden-Gray House, a grand 1850s Italianate mansion tucked into the Discovery District, has reopened its doors as Blu Note on Town, a jazz club that mixes old-world charm with live music and late-night cocktails.
It’s the second location for Blu Note Jazz Cafe, and it’s already bringing new energy to Downtown.
A new life for the Snowden-Gray House
The Snowden-Gray House is a standout example of Italianate Villa architecture, built in 1852. Designed to showcase elegance and style, the mansion was commissioned by Philip Snowden, a wealthy silk importer, as a private residence.
Its distinctive features include a prominent tower, tall windows, and ornate decorative details typical of mid-19th century Italianate design. Over the years, the house has retained much of its architectural charm, making it one of Columbus’s most notable historic homes.
Music and food worth coming back for
Blu Note on Town is starting out small, hosting live jazz on Sundays and Mondays while the original Main Street location takes a break. The goal is to add weekend shows soon, building toward live jazz seven nights a week between both clubs.
The menu is more ambitious than you might expect from a late-night spot. Guests can dig into plates like jerk lamb chops or shrimp Alfredo alongside their cocktails. The idea is that people might come for the music but stay for the food.
Keeping jazz alive in Columbus
Owner Derrik Pannell has made it clear this is about more than just opening a new bar. “We are looking to put an emphasis back on jazz and in the preservation of it because it is such a critical component to our culture,” he told the Dispatch.
Columbus once had a buzzing jazz scene in the ’90s and early 2000s, but that faded over time. Pannell, whose father was a jazz musician, says Blu Note is his way of making sure the music always has a home in the city.
Know Before You Go
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📍 530 E. Town St., Discovery District
⏰ Open Sundays & Mondays, 6–11 p.m. (for now)
🥂 Two bars, full menu, good vibes guaranteed
