Above the Fold

Breaking Down the Midterm Election, and Thunderdome Restaurant Founders Talk Industry Changes

Hosts Andy and Tom are joined by politics reporter Chris Wetterich to talk the midterm election's results and local impact. Also on the podcast, UC is building a $200 million gateway building as an entrance to a completely revamped section of Uptown, the first act has been booked for the Farmer Family Music Center, formerly known as Riverbend 2.0, two modular homes have debuted in Evanston as a proof of concept that housing can be built off-site and assembled and a local brewery is pivoting away from beer with its newest offering. Interview starts at (24:21). Joe and John Lanni are founders of the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, which is behind eateries like the Eagle, Pepp & Dolores and Currito. They just opened a new Eagle in the District at Deerfield development and their second Pepp & Dolores will soon follow. They talk about how they do business in the suburbs, growing boutique brands like Pepp & Dolores and how third-party delivery services like Uber Eats are taking a bite out of sales.

Scripps Laying off Hundreds, and Metro CEO Talks its Biggest Swing

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about troubles facing the journalism industry as local titan E.W. Scripps lays off hundreds of workers, meaning nearly 10% of its workforce has been cut this year. Also on the podcast, 3CDC plans to revitalize an OTR park that's become a hotbed for crime, dark money funnels into the CPS tax levy fight, an East Side athletic club triples its renovation budget and Rhinegeist debuts its newest taproom food offering. Interview starts at (22:09). Andy Aiello is CEO of Metro, taking over after voters approved a massive capital injection which has allowed the transit organization to take its biggest-ever swing. He's now spearheading Metro’s largest project in recent memory, building out bus-rapid transit, or what’s also called rail on rubber, which is supposed to bring the speed of rail transit, but on rubber tires.

Transforming East of Cincinnati, Multimillion-Dollar Gifts and Model Group's CEO is Bullish on Downtown

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about the conclusion of a $200 million project that continues to transform Clermont County east of Cincinnati, McNicholas High School receives its largest-ever gift from a Cincinnati business leader, Christ Hospital receives its largest gift to the tune of $50 million, Covington looks to build high at a key site and a suburban retailer turned a pandemic hobby into a $3 million business. Interview starts at (15:58). Bobby Maly is CEO of The Model Group, one of Cincinnati's most prolific real estate developers. Model Group has completely transformed the area around Findlay Market and reinvigorated Walnut Hills business district, but most of its work is downtown. Maly talks about why working in the urban core is vital, how his company looks at projects and why downtown Cincinnati is beating its peers.

Kroger is Laying off 3,000 Office Workers, and Breast Cancer Leader Talks Motivating Men

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about one of the biggest corporate layoffs in recent years, which comes as downtown sees activity levels rise to pre-pandemic rates. They also discuss Cincinnati's newest Costco, business groups weighing in on tax increases and a restaurant boom in Madisonville. Interview starts at (20:54). Jeanette Altenau is founder and campaign chair of Men Wear Pink Cincinnati, which is not even her day job. She leads a group of impressive men who have made it their goal to improve outcomes for those with breast cancer. Cincinnati Business Courier Publisher and Market President Jamie Smith joins Tom to discuss how the effort was launched, how it has grown and why Cincinnati is able to perform the way it has.

A Zip Line is Floated for OTR, and MadTree's CEO Talks Brick-and-mortar Growth.

Host Andy Brownfield returns from paternity leave. He and Tom discuss a flood of new housing inventory not seen since pre-pandemic times, 80 Acres CEO giving insight on the unicorn startup's implosion, a youth soccer tournament that's predicted to have a $30 million impact, a $60 million suburban medical office and plans to build a park with a zipline down to Over-the-Rhine. Interview starts at (18:59). Historically, for a brewery to grow, it needed to make more beer. That model had served the local craft industry for more than a decade. But as the industry shifts, producing more liquid isn't the catalyst to growth it once was. MadTree is turning that model on its head. Instead of producing more beer, it is opening new brick-and-mortar locations. CEO Rhiannon Hoeweler says it's growing into a hospitality company that makes its own beverages, rather than a brewery that invites the public in.

Makeover Planned for Iconic Hotel and a Deep Dive Into Cincy’s Startup Ecosystem

Hosts Tom and Steve reminisce about the Radisson Hotel and its revolving restaurant, as the Covington building is expected to be converted into a Reverb by Hard Rock Hotel, Walmart planning to invest $300 million into a project between Cincinnati and Dayton, the latest rankings for the region’s top private schools, a luxury home remodeler launching a home building division and how the Cincinnati Reds fared in terms of attendance this season. Interview starts at (25:54). This year marks the 10th anniversary of StartupCincy Week. J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse, will bring together investors, startups, community builders and others from the ecosystem at Union Hall for events, programs, panels, keynote speaking and happy hours. He provides a preview, plus shares his take on where Cincinnati stands in terms of its overall startup ecosystem and what it still needs.

More Cincinnati Firms Become Employee Owned and Blink Leaders Discuss What’s new for 2026 Edition

Hosts Tom and Liz discuss the uptick in notable Cincinnati companies choosing to become employee owned, a downtown project that converted office space to apartments is essentially completely full, OKI is studying ways to improve transportation access to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the latest rankings of local universities on the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges list, and a new restaurant coming to downtown Mason. Interview starts at (17:25). Initially planned as a one-time offering, Blink has become one of the most recognizable celebrations of light and art in the nation. Leslie Mooney, executive director of Blink, and Andrew Salzbrun, co-founder of Blink, join Tom and Special Projects Editor Nikki Kingery to talk about what’s new for this year’s edition of Blink, what it takes to make the four-day celebration happen and the impact it’s had not just locally, but around the world.

Skyline Chili Names a New CEO and REDI Cincinnati’s Pipeline is at Highest Level Since Before Covid19

DescHosts Tom and Brian discuss the iconic chili chain naming its next CEO, who has a decade of P&G experience, Cincinnati Children’s retaining its top rankings in the latest U.S. News & World report, a Kansas City developer switching gears on its plans for a historic downtown Cincinnati building, Givaudan acquiring land to start construction on a $215 million project and the nation’s largest bookstore chain acquiring Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Interview starts at (19:42). As the region’s top economic development organization, REDI Cincinnati is the point of the spear when it comes to helping attract and retain businesses. And the team is very busy as of late. President and CEO Kimm Lauterbach said the organization’s pipeline for projects is at its highest level in years. She joins Tom Demeropolis and reporter and columnist Chris Wetterich to discuss recent wins, the overall economy and what’s in the works.

One of Cincinnati’s Largest Private Companies has a New HQ and Xavier’s President Talks Rebounding Enrollment

Hosts Tom and Nikki discuss Baker Construction’s plans to move its headquarters out of Monroe, GE Aerospace’s acquisition of a key supplier for nearly $12 billion, a planned hotel in Corryville receives some pushback from the community, our local universities are in an arms race when it comes to college athletics and a fast-growing family-owned Mexican restaurant group plans to open its seventh location in a $640 million mixed-use development. Interview starts at (18:49). Xavier University has a lot going on. The private, Jesuit university saw enrollment rebound this fall, it’s wrapping up construction on the nation's first and only Jesuit college of osteopathic medicine and Xavier has raised more than 80% of its half a billion-dollar fundraising campaign. President Colleen Hanycz sits down with Tom Demeropolis to discuss this items, as well as the rivalry between Musketeers and Bearcats.

A new Costco is Coming to Cincinnati and Covington’s Mayor Eyes a Change for Phase 2 of Former IRS Site

Hosts Tom and Chris discuss where former Hamilton County residents have moved, as well as Waymo starting its process of mapping the city for robotaxis, the Cincinnati Bengals franchise valuation continues to soar, a hotel near downtown was purchased for $10 million with plans to convert it into senior housing and Costco announced plans to build a 166,739-square-foot store in the Eastgate area of Clermont County. Interview starts at (22:16). Covington, the largest city in Northern Kentucky, is having a moment. Redevelopment activity is visible all over the city. Large employers are moving into Covington’s core. And Mayor Ron Washington is working to make sure the city continues its renaissance without losing its quirks. He talks about big development opportunities, such as the former Duro Bag site and the second phase of the Covington Central Riverfront.

The Largest Private Equity Fund Raised in Cincinnati and Merus CEO Talks HQ Move

Hosts Tom and Steve discuss a Lexington-based company deciding to move its headquarters to Cincinnati, as well as the largest private equity fund raised in Cincinnati, a new office building coming to Montgomery Quarter that is already roughly 70% leased, a $25 million fundraising campaign launches for an Over-the-Rhine theater and the Cincinnati Open had a record-breaking performance in 2026. Merus is one of the largest, and most active, commercial real estate developers in Greater Cincinnati. Beyond its work locally, the design-build developer has projects in Nashville, Raleigh and elsewhere. Molly North, CEO of Merus, has led the company through its expansion. Now, the company is getting ready to take on its largest development project yet, as well as a headquarters move.

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Cincinnati Soccer Club Plans $10M Complex and the Importance of Design for the Redevelopment of Hyde Park Square

Hosts Tom and Liz discuss a youth soccer club’s plans for a $10 million athletic facility and headquarters, as well as a local firm that takes basketball courts and turns them into memorabilia, one of the region’s largest commercial real estate firms moves its offices into space at the Banks, which public high schools are ranked highest in Greater Cincinnati and the region’s largest brewery will be serving up new dining options, with a side of nostalgia, soon. Interview starts at (19:04). Cincinnati has no shortage of big development projects in the works. And there is demand for more. For Bill Baker, managing partner at downtown-based MSA Design, the way the buildings look and how people interact with them is a critical part of the design process. Baker discusses how the design of the Hyde Park Square redevelopment has evolved, the benefits of bringing more people into the city and the need for humans in the design process.

Amazon Plans $5B Data Center and How Cincinnati Became a Hot Bed for Hollywood

Hosts Tom and Nikki discuss plans for a $5 billion data center north of Cincinnati, as well as the massive increase in home sales priced at $1 million or more, a former golf course that will become a mix of homes, apartments and retail space, a $100 million hotel, office and restaurant project planned near Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and a new restaurant coming soon to Over-the-Rhine that will serve steak frites exclusively. Interview starts at (17:50). Cincinnati is pretty far away from Hollywood, California. But for years, the Queen City has served as a location for dozens of films and shows. Film Cincinnati President and CEO Kristen Schlotman has been leading the effort to bring Hollywood productions to the region since 2002. With the competition for movies remaining intense, Schlotman discusses the benefits Cincinnati offers, and what those productions bring to the region.

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A Rare Unicorn Startup Implodes, and Dave Jenike Talks What's New at the Zoo

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about a rare Cincinnati unicorn – a startup company worth at least $1B – that abruptly ceased operations. In other news, one of Cincinnati's largest private companies is expanding its downtown headquarters, and bringing back the skywalk; Amazon touts its local impact; P&G is making a $3.8B acquisition; and a James Beard-nominated chef is opening a new restaurant. Interview starts at (23:43) Dave Jenike started at the Cincinnati Zoo as an intern. Now, he's its CEO. He was also part of the duo responsible for its transformation over the last two decades. He views his job as the zoo's chief storyteller, and getting people inspired by nature. He talks about what's new and coming at the Cincinnati Zoo. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/08/07/80-acres-how-why-closed-henry-gordon-smith-layoffs.html https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/08/03/divisions-maintenance-group-jobs-downtown-skywalk.html https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/08/04/jimmie-lou-reopen-pendleton-jeff-harris-nolia.html

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Hyde Park Developer Talks Need for Alignment, why is Cincinnati Nightlife Dead?

Nick Lingenfelter is chief development officer of PLK Communities, the developer behind Factory 52 and the upcoming Hyde Park Square redevelopment. He sees the need for more alignment from the region's institutions to promote growth, lest Cincinnati fall behind. He also talks the origins of Factory 52, and the challenges and opportunities of development in Hyde Park. Elsewhere on the podcast, hosts Andy and Tom talk about the death of Cincinnati's nightlife boom, the opening of a new independent hotel downtown, the push from one county commissioner to use stadium funds for other needs and one of the urban core's largest restaurant spaces finding new life. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/31/bars-restaurants-post-covid-costs-new-open-w… https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/28/fidelity-hotel-gwynne-procter-gamble-new-wat… https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/29/coco-moon-restaurant-brewdog-pendleton-food.…

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Port reveals new plan for Crosley Building and Kona Ice CEO chats complexity of shaved ice business

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about why Cincinnati’s new $540 million convention center headquarters hotel will not be a JW Marriott, as well as the Port’s plans for Camp Washington, a robotic welding company that was launched by Space X alumni, the most significant moment in a local unicorn’s history and how cool it would be to have a car condo. Plus, we sit down with Kona Ice CEO Tony Lamb who shares how he turned a simple shaved ice concept into the largest mobile food vendor in the world, with thousands of Kona Ice and Traveling Tom’s trucks on the road, by leaning into mobile operations, a patented “flavor wave” system that lets customers create their own combinations and proprietary routing and staffing software born during Covid-19.

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Historic OTR Church Acquired and how New Riff Navigates the Bourbon Bubble

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about plans for 3CDC to buy the historic St. Francis Seraph church in Over-the-Rhine, as well as the closure of legendary chef Jean-Robert de Cavel's last restaurant, Kroger axing plans to open more Harris Teeter stores and a Krazy new retailer. Interview starts at (18:42). Bourbon is a tricky business. It has to age for several years – New Riff's minimum is four – before it can be bottled and sold, so distilleries have to be very good at forecasting demand well in advance. With so many producers investing billions in ramping up production in recent years, that's led to a glut of product. New Riff CEO Hannah Lowen talks about how her distillery has navigated that, and what's new at the region's largest bourbon producer.

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Decks Coming to Fort Washington Way, and 50 West's CEO Talks the Fight for THC

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about the latest on plans to cap Fort Washington Way, including which funds cannot be used to complete the $50 million first phase, as well as a pair of big projects that got state funding, one of the region's largest construction firms going employee-owned and a former P&Ger who bought a gun range. Interview starts at (21:55). Fifty West Brewing CEO Bobby Slattery says people’s views on who drinks THC seltzer is wrong. It's not hippies or stoners drinking his Sunflower brand, but soccer moms. And Ohio's ban on their production is costing his brewery millions, and the state tons of jobs. Bobby is one of the leading voices pushing to overturn Ohio’s ban. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/09/husted-funding-fort-washington-way-highway-c… https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/01/atrium-1-fourth-walnut-centre-tmud-office-co… https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/07/miller-valentine-construction-employee-owned…

Kroger making $1.7B acquisition, and a chat with 3CDC CEO Steve Leeper

Above the Fold is back! Hosts Andy and Tom talk about Kroger's plan to make a $1.7 billion acquisition of Giant Eagle, losing the main sponsors of Cincinnati's LPGA tournament, and just what is a kolache? Interview starts at (19:28). Steve Leeper has shepherded 3CDC, which is responsible for more than $2 billion in investment into Cincinnati's urban core since, 2006. Fresh off of the $264 million renovation of the First Financial Center, we talk with Steve about connecting the various parts of the urban core, and whether his work will ever truly be done. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/07/01/kroger-acquiring-supermarket-chain-for-1-7-billion.html https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/06/30/lpga-kroger-queen-city-championship-sponsors-drop.html https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2026/06/26/shipley-donuts-kolache-pastry-franchise-koetting.html

Business Courier's year in review: The biggest stories of 2023

Hosts Andy and Tom are joined by Business Courier reporters Brian Planalp, Abby Miller and Steve Watkins to dissect some of the biggest local news stories of 2023. Those include a record number of restaurants closing in Cincinnati – more than when Covid-19 broke out in 2020 – as well as an unassuming local millionaire leaving $270 million to local organizations; Cincinnati gaining a new Fortune 500 company; what's going on with downtown real estate as companies figure out what to do about remote and hybrid work and their physical office space; and the Western & Southern Open selecting Cincinnati as its permanent home following a $400 million bid by Charlotte, N.C., to lure the tournament there. Above the Fold will go on hiatus after Dec. 25, 2023. Above the Fold is a podcast by the Cincinnati Business Courier.