Joya's Cafe Wins Approval for Old Worthington Expansion and Evening Hours
Chef Avishar Barua plans dinner service and approximately 60 added seats after municipal boards clear an adjacent storefront buildout.
Joya’s Cafe has cleared all municipal regulatory hurdles to annex the adjacent storefront in Old Worthington, paving the way for an expanded dining room, a full bar and evening dinner service.
Official meeting records finalized on Oct. 2, 2026, document that the Worthington Architectural Review Board and the Worthington Municipal Planning Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 10, 2026, to approve the project's certificate of appropriateness and conditional use permit board approvals. The decisions allow the Bengali-American cafe, founded by chef Avishar Barua, to expand from 657 High St. into the former Grid Furnishings suite at 661-A High St. space expansion.
Storefront Renovations and Accessibility
The architectural plans, submitted by Carly Maggio on behalf of Joya’s and design firm 410 Studio on Aug. 14, 2026, call for significant architectural and accessibility upgrades to the 1875 commercial building architectural plans.
The former Grid Furnishings entrance will be converted into a fully accessible entryway. Contractors will remove the existing front step, build a recessed ramped entrance and install an interior vestibule accessible entry. The new entrance will feature black metal double doors with six window lights per door and kickplates at the bottom doorway buildout.
Exterior signage will also be updated to unify the spaces. Joya's will relocate its existing blade sign to a column south of the new entrance blade sign. Above the doorway, the restaurant will mount a 14-square-foot dimensional wall sign measuring 72 inches wide by 28 inches tall with individual letters spelling "joyas" wall sign.
Along the building's south elevation, workers will remove an existing bay window and fill the opening with matching lap siding bay window removal. New exterior mechanical equipment on the ground level will be enclosed behind a 6-foot-tall horizontal cedar screen fence mechanical fence.
Dining Capacity and Permitted Hours
Inside the annex, the buildout will add approximately 60 seats across general and private dining spaces dining buildout. The expanded floor plan incorporates a new waiting area, a dedicated bar, a full commercial kitchen and new restrooms layout plan.
To accommodate dinner service and future operations, the Municipal Planning Commission approved daily operating hours from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. under conditional use permit CU 09-2026 operating hours. The approvals also permit eight outdoor sidewalk seats along the public right-of-way sidewalk seating.
The extended operating envelope establishes the legal foundation for Barua’s planned evening dinner service. Filings show Joya’s intends to operate breakfast and lunch from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, followed by dinner service from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday service hours.
Downtown Foot Traffic and Waste Impact
City planning staff noted during the regulatory review that Joya’s has substantially increased pedestrian foot traffic in the Central Business District since opening in 2022 foot traffic. Customer parking will remain on High Street and across municipal public lots, matching neighborhood business patterns.
The cafe's high customer volume has also prompted municipal operational adjustments. Worthington officials reported an increase in solid waste and recycling downtown linked to Joya’s and nearby bakery Kittie’s waste increase. In response, the city installed an additional public waste and recycling receptacle and relocated existing containers to handle refuse volumes, noting that elevated waste levels continue even during winter months when the Worthington Farmers Market does not operate outdoors in the commercial district waste receptacles.
Chef Barua's Vision and 2027 Timeline
For Barua, who also operates Agni in Columbus’s Brewery District, the expansion addresses space constraints that have long forced patrons to wait outside or rely on takeout dining demand.
“A lot of our regulars and our guests, they like to spend a lot of time there, and they’d like to have space to spend more time,” Barua said patron loyalty. “They had initially been one guest, and then they brought two friends, and they brought four friends. We don’t really have a lot of space to seat them there.”
Barua noted that 2027 is a broad construction estimate, citing equipment lead times and construction schedules construction target. The chef stated that his goal is to keep the existing cafe open for daytime service during construction, depending on final phasing plans phased operations.
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Joya’s Cafe has cleared all municipal regulatory hurdles to annex the adjacent storefront in Old Worthington, paving the way for an expanded dining room, a full bar and evening dinner service.
Official meeting records finalized on Oct. 2, 2026, document that the Worthington Architectural Review Board and the Worthington Municipal Planning Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 10, 2026, to approve the project's certificate of appropriateness and conditional use permit board approvals. The decisions allow the Bengali-American cafe, founded by chef Avishar Barua, to expand from 657 High St. into the former Grid Furnishings suite at 661-A High St. space expansion.
Storefront Renovations and Accessibility
The architectural plans, submitted by Carly Maggio on behalf of Joya’s and design firm 410 Studio on Aug. 14, 2026, call for significant architectural and accessibility upgrades to the 1875 commercial building architectural plans.
The former Grid Furnishings entrance will be converted into a fully accessible entryway. Contractors will remove the existing front step, build a recessed ramped entrance and install an interior vestibule accessible entry. The new entrance will feature black metal double doors with six window lights per door and kickplates at the bottom doorway buildout.
Exterior signage will also be updated to unify the spaces. Joya's will relocate its existing blade sign to a column south of the new entrance blade sign. Above the doorway, the restaurant will mount a 14-square-foot dimensional wall sign measuring 72 inches wide by 28 inches tall with individual letters spelling "joyas" wall sign.
Along the building's south elevation, workers will remove an existing bay window and fill the opening with matching lap siding bay window removal. New exterior mechanical equipment on the ground level will be enclosed behind a 6-foot-tall horizontal cedar screen fence mechanical fence.
Dining Capacity and Permitted Hours
Inside the annex, the buildout will add approximately 60 seats across general and private dining spaces dining buildout. The expanded floor plan incorporates a new waiting area, a dedicated bar, a full commercial kitchen and new restrooms layout plan.
To accommodate dinner service and future operations, the Municipal Planning Commission approved daily operating hours from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. under conditional use permit CU 09-2026 operating hours. The approvals also permit eight outdoor sidewalk seats along the public right-of-way sidewalk seating.
The extended operating envelope establishes the legal foundation for Barua’s planned evening dinner service. Filings show Joya’s intends to operate breakfast and lunch from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, followed by dinner service from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday service hours.
Downtown Foot Traffic and Waste Impact
City planning staff noted during the regulatory review that Joya’s has substantially increased pedestrian foot traffic in the Central Business District since opening in 2022 foot traffic. Customer parking will remain on High Street and across municipal public lots, matching neighborhood business patterns.
The cafe's high customer volume has also prompted municipal operational adjustments. Worthington officials reported an increase in solid waste and recycling downtown linked to Joya’s and nearby bakery Kittie’s waste increase. In response, the city installed an additional public waste and recycling receptacle and relocated existing containers to handle refuse volumes, noting that elevated waste levels continue even during winter months when the Worthington Farmers Market does not operate outdoors in the commercial district waste receptacles.
Chef Barua's Vision and 2027 Timeline
For Barua, who also operates Agni in Columbus’s Brewery District, the expansion addresses space constraints that have long forced patrons to wait outside or rely on takeout dining demand.
“A lot of our regulars and our guests, they like to spend a lot of time there, and they’d like to have space to spend more time,” Barua said patron loyalty. “They had initially been one guest, and then they brought two friends, and they brought four friends. We don’t really have a lot of space to seat them there.”
Barua noted that 2027 is a broad construction estimate, citing equipment lead times and construction schedules construction target. The chef stated that his goal is to keep the existing cafe open for daytime service during construction, depending on final phasing plans phased operations.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
ARB/MPC Minutes · September 10, 2026 · minutes
Supporting evidence (16)
Official meeting records finalized on Oct. 2, 2026, document that the Worthington Architectural Review Board and the Worthington Municipal Planning Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 10, 2026, to approve the project's certificate of appropriateness and conditional use permit board approvals.
Read supporting passage
THAT THE REQUEST BY CARLY MAGGIO ON BEHALF OF JOYA’S FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPROPRIATENESS TO MODIFY THE BUILDING AND SIGNAGE AT 657 & 661-A HIGH ST., AS PER CASE NO. ARB 57-2026
The decisions allow the Bengali-American cafe, founded by chef Avishar Barua, to expand from 657 High St. into the former Grid Furnishings suite at 661-A High St. space expansion.
Read supporting passage
THAT THE REQUEST BY CARLY MAGGIO ON BEHALF OF JOYA’S FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT IN THE C-5 ZONING DISTRICT AT 657 & 661-A HIGH ST., AS PER CASE NO. CU 09-2026
The architectural plans, submitted by Carly Maggio on behalf of Joya’s and design firm 410 Studio on Aug. 14, 2026, call for significant architectural and accessibility upgrades to the 1875 commercial building architectural plans.
Read supporting passage
THAT THE REQUEST BY CARLY MAGGIO ON BEHALF OF JOYA’S FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPROPRIATENESS TO MODIFY THE BUILDING AND SIGNAGE AT 657 & 661-A HIGH ST., AS PER CASE NO. ARB 57-2026
Contractors will remove the existing front step, build a recessed ramped entrance and install an interior vestibule accessible entry.
Read supporting passage
• Step removed – made into ramp • Doors moved further into space • Interior vestibule
The new entrance will feature black metal double doors with six window lights per door and kickplates at the bottom doorway buildout.
Read supporting passage
(2) New glass double doors • Six lights in each door • Kickplate at bottom • Black metal
Joya's will relocate its existing blade sign to a column south of the new entrance blade sign.
Read supporting passage
Blade sign (1) Relocate from current location to column south of new entrance
Above the doorway, the restaurant will mount a 14-square-foot dimensional wall sign measuring 72 inches wide by 28 inches tall with individual letters spelling "joyas" wall sign.
Read supporting passage
b. Wall sign (1) 72” wide x 28” high = 14 sf in area (2) “joyas” individual letters
Along the building's south elevation, workers will remove an existing bay window and fill the opening with matching lap siding bay window removal.
Read supporting passage
(1) Remove bay window • Fill in with lap siding to match
New exterior mechanical equipment on the ground level will be enclosed behind a 6-foot-tall horizontal cedar screen fence mechanical fence.
Read supporting passage
• Install 6’ high Cedar horizontal fence to screen
Inside the annex, the buildout will add approximately 60 seats across general and private dining spaces dining buildout.
Read supporting passage
Additional seating and private dining ~ 60 seats
The expanded floor plan incorporates a new waiting area, a dedicated bar, a full commercial kitchen and new restrooms layout plan.
Read supporting passage
New space to include: (1) Waiting area (2) New bar (3) New kitchen (4) New restrooms
To accommodate dinner service and future operations, the Municipal Planning Commission approved daily operating hours from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. under conditional use permit CU 09-2026 operating hours.
Read supporting passage
OPERATING HOURS CAN BE FROM 8:00 A,M, TO 11:00 P.M. AND THAT THE EIGHT ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK SEATINGS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
The approvals also permit eight outdoor sidewalk seats along the public right-of-way sidewalk seating.
Read supporting passage
OPERATING HOURS CAN BE FROM 8:00 A,M, TO 11:00 P.M. AND THAT THE EIGHT ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK SEATINGS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
City planning staff noted during the regulatory review that Joya’s has substantially increased pedestrian foot traffic in the Central Business District since opening in 2022 foot traffic.
Read supporting passage
Foot traffic has increased in the area as part of this use. Parking is on High St. or in the municipal parking lots as is typical for other businesses in the Central Business District.
Worthington officials reported an increase in solid waste and recycling downtown linked to Joya’s and nearby bakery Kittie’s waste increase.
Read supporting passage
There has been an increase in the amount of waste/trash associated with the restaurant since opening. The City has added an additional waste & recycling receptacle and moved the location of the other receptacles to address the increase in waste from Joya’s and Kitties.
In response, the city installed an additional public waste and recycling receptacle and relocated existing containers to handle refuse volumes, noting that elevated waste levels continue even during winter months when the Worthington Farmers Market does not operate outdoors in the commercial district waste receptacles.
Read supporting passage
There has been an increase in the amount of waste/trash associated with the restaurant since opening. The City has added an additional waste & recycling receptacle and moved the location of the other receptacles to address the increase in waste from Joya’s and Kitties.
Supporting evidence (5)
Wednesday through Sunday service hours.
Read supporting passage
Plans submitted to the city show the expanded Joya’s serving breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, then reopening for dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
For Barua, who also operates Agni in Columbus’s Brewery District, the expansion addresses space constraints that have long forced patrons to wait outside or rely on takeout dining demand.
Read supporting passage
“A lot of our regulars and our guests, they like to spend a lot of time there, and they’d like to have space to spend more time,” Barua told NBC4. “They had initially been one guest, and then they brought two friends, and they brought four friends. We don’t really have a lot of space to seat them there.”
“A lot of our regulars and our guests, they like to spend a lot of time there, and they’d like to have space to spend more time,” Barua said patron loyalty.
Read supporting passage
“A lot of our regulars and our guests, they like to spend a lot of time there, and they’d like to have space to spend more time,” Barua told NBC4. “They had initially been one guest, and then they brought two friends, and they brought four friends. We don’t really have a lot of space to seat them there.”
Barua noted that 2027 is a broad construction estimate, citing equipment lead times and construction schedules construction target.
Read supporting passage
No opening date has been set for the expanded restaurant. Barua said 2027 is only a broad construction estimate because equipment availability and other parts of the project could affect the schedule.
The chef stated that his goal is to keep the existing cafe open for daytime service during construction, depending on final phasing plans phased operations.
Read supporting passage
He said the goal is to keep the existing Joya’s open during construction, although the final plans will determine whether that is possible.