NEW LOCATIONS UNLOCKED !
ENTERTAINMENT.
slab pottery studio.
mostly a working space for artists, but also a functioning pottery studio for those who want to learn to throw or glaze some pre-made items for an easy date. feel free to bring your own art materials and settle at one of the wide open tables - there are always artists filtering in and out, and it’s a great space to find your creativity. there are private tables upstairs with the only fee being an offered snack to share with fellow artists/staff, or a flat $10 for the day.
angel eyes tattoo parlor.
if you want a tattoo, angel eyes is your only option in the area. it’s a clean studio, fitting into the heavenly theme that floats around eden park, and the waiting couches are fluffy and soft. walk-ins are accepted and usually feasible, but the artists are good at what they do and tend to be booked up most of the weekend days.
FOOD.
nutcase donuts.
a family owned donut shop that’s open thursday thru sunday mornings from 6am-1pm - unless they sell out sooner. all donuts are made in-house bright and early, decorated with love, and served with a (somewhat tired) smile. the entire area around the bakery smells amazing as soon as the fryers turn on. there isn’t much as far as seating goes inside, but there are a couple tables out front - if you make it that far with a warm donut in hand.
sticky fingers bbq.
after moving from southern missouri and finding that ohio - colossal specifically - didn’t have any good barbecue around, the owners of sticky fingers vowed to give the people what they deserve. and what they deserve? ribs, juicy and perfectly marinated; creamy mac and cheese spilling out of the side bowls; burnt ends so mindblowingly crisp and tender you start to feel feverish. do not wear your nice clothes inside, and be sure to ask for extra wet wipes. all meats are smoked in house, all barbecue sauce is made in house, and the baked bean recipe is so secret, cooks have to sign a waiver before they start work.
PUBLIC AMENITIES.
quik’r fix’r.
closer to the cul-de-sacs, quik’r fix’r is a big barn-style warehouse with an impressive collection of rusting cars in the lot. don’t let that stop you from bringing your business - they’re the best shop in the area and will always treat your car with a tender touch. not all the mechanics are personable, but they’re great at their jobs and pretty damn cheap, too
SHOPPING.
pieces and parts hardware.
another colossal family-owned establishment. the smell of pine follows you around the store as you peruse the various tools and supplies needed for basic home repair. spray paint is kept behind the counter, but the staff are so nice, they’ll usually sell it to anyone who asks - even the shifty-eyed teens with stained fingers and skateboards under their arms.
ricochet toys & games.
to hell with big, commercial toy shops! ricochet has been family owned and operated for over forty years. once operating under the name phillips toy market, ricochet underwent branding changes about five years ago, but they’re the same old mom and pop shop as ever. all sorts of toys important to different generations line their walls and shelves, filling the shop with a certain magic that lights up the eyes of anyone who wanders in. there’s a special play area for children to test out the wares including a big train set table that is always being remodeled by customers and employees alike. head upstairs and find the most popular interactive display: a giant piano, rife with musical potential for anyone willing to jump around on its massive keys.
AREAS OF NOTE.
the cardinal inn.
while colossal might not get a ton of tourism, many drifters pass through the area looking for a single night’s stay. the only option? the cardinal inn! the building is roughly shaped like a birdhouse might be and the lawn is filled with gorgeous, well-tended natural elements: big bushes, an array of wildflowers, and two monstrous willow trees that tower in the back. the inside is also filled with an avian theme, and each of the ten rooms are named after different kinds of birds. enjoy up to a two-night stay with a housemade breakfast available every morning at 8:30am.
the farmlands.
growing mostly corn and soybeans, there are many pastures just west of colossal. fall brings activities like hay rides and corn mazes, while summer is filled with the overwhelming smell of soil.
the orchard.
though only open in the late summer through fall, the orchard has a massive fan base. colossal residents look forward every year to heading out to pick apples and pumpkins, or grab a hot cider at andy’s barn store located right on the property. an outdoor concert event space operates on the property all summer, too, bringing live bands to the open air; locally made hard ciders are available for purchase in flavors like pink lady, black cherry, or pear.