Brice - Canal Winchester, OH

Brice residents have witnessed a lot of changes in the village over the decades. The village bustled with the import and export of grain, coal, animal feed and building materials in its early days. Both the Brice Mill and Motz Grainery were built in the 1800s. Now, the residents enjoy the peace and quiet of their little village on the edge of Columbus.

Tomato lovers unite at the Annual Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival in nearby Huber Park just south of E. Main Street in Reynoldsburg. Reynoldsburg has been declared the birthplace of the commercial tomato. As such, the city celebrates with a festival that naturally features tomatoes. Get your fill of tomato displays and contests, participate in tomato-related arts and crafts and enjoy live entertainment there.

National chains, both fast food and sit-down restaurants dominate the food choices in the area but two local establishments stand out from the crowd.

Little Sicily’s Pizza House has been a fixture in the neighborhood for over 40 years. They boast an extensive menu that includes appetizers, salads, subs, lasagna, spaghetti and of course pizza. With 17 toppings, you can build a pizza to suit your palette.

As the name implies, Cajun Island on Brice Road at the edge of Reynoldsburg specializes in Cajun food. Their menu offers several choices of foods that will heat up your mouth with offerings such as Blackened Bourbon Pork Loin, Dirty Rice with Cajun Sausage and Shrimp and Cajun Fried Chicken. They also serve pizzas, subs, salads and desserts along with a few breakfast items.

Those looking for nighttime activities can venture west to downtown Columbus where they will find a large array of possibilities. Theater enthusiasts can watch a live show at any of the three theatres – the Palace, the Southern Theater, and the Ohio Theater. Bar hopping is a favorite activity downtown and in the Short North, a neighborhood just north of the city’s center. Join in the nighttime fun on the first Saturday of the month for the Short North Gallery Hop. Stroll up and down High Street browsing the galleries that stay open late for the event, enjoy live music on the streets and catch a late dinner or drink at one of the many pubs along the way.

Brice’s location provides motorists easy access to Interstate 70 which runs east and west through the greater Columbus area. From 70 you can connect with the 270 Outerbelt that circles the metropolitan area or with Interstate 71 which runs north and south through the city.

Park your car at the park-and-ride lot near the Century City Shopping Center in Reynoldsburg, and board one of four buses, #1, #45, #47 or #48. The #1 bus will take you east all the way to the center of Columbus. The other three buses connect with others to take you around the rest of the metropolitan area. You will have a difficult time hailing a cab so call ahead for one if you must.

Interstate 70 also provides easy access to Port Columbus International Airport on International Gateway where you can buy a ticket and fly around the country and to different parts of the world.

Athletic fields cover most of the 60 plus acres of Nafzger Park on Noe Bixby Rd. The fields provide a place for area athletic teams both young and old to practice their games. Young children can spend time in the children’s playground while their older siblings engage in more strenuous activities.

Trails for hiking and biking, picnic tables for outdoor meals, observation areas for observing the more than 260 species of birds and over 1600 acres of the great outdoors are what attract visitors to nearby Pickerington Ponds Metro Park, just south of Brice on Wright Road. The ponds and wetlands, along with the acres of woodlands, attract birds of all types such as shore birds, land birds and migrating waterfowl. Deer, fox, beaver and many other species of wildlife call this park their home.

The overall cost of living in Brice stands about 13 percent lower than in the rest of the country. Groceries cost about 6 percent less than elsewhere in the United States but transportation costs are 2 percent higher. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $650 a month.

A one-day COTA bus pass costs $4.00, with a $.75 transfer charge if necessary. Purchase a one-month pass for $62.00. Gas prices generally remain about 4 percent lower than the national average. Expect to pay about $6.00 for a pint of beer in the local restaurants.

Big box chain stores stand out in the shopping scene in Brice and nearby Reynoldsburg. Find do-it-yourself home repair items at Lowes on Brice Road, discover new home furniture and furnishings at Ashley Furniture also on Brice Road and stock up on the latest electronic gadgets at Best Buy on Taylor Road.

Downtown Pickerington, a short drive east of Brice, is home to an assortment of delightful boutiques. Ritzy Rose carries both vintage and hand-made jewelry and accessories, 27 West & Co stocks “upcycled” vintage and antique home décor, and the Careless Heart fills their shelves with t-shirts, jeans and accessories for skate-boarders.

Two national chains, Aldi and Walmart, supply groceries. Aldi on Gender Road in Reynoldsburg carries a limited selection of produce, canned goods, deli, bakery, dairy and frozen items and alcoholic beverages. Walmart on Taylor Road, also in Reynoldsburg, stocks a full line of groceries and household items. Pick up your prescription, get the oil changed in your car and get your eyes checked while you are there.