Restaurateur Opens Second Establishment in Uptown

Asterisk owner set to add Westerville Ampersand Asian Supper Club location

As the current and past owner of three successful restaurants with another opening this year, Megan Ada embodies the term “experienced restaurateur.” Megan is the founder of Asterisk Supper Club, located at 14 N. State St., and is set to open her second Uptown restaurant, Ampersand Supper Club, located at 32 W. College Ave.

Ampersand is the second establishment with the same name under Megan’s leadership; joining her initial operation in the Short North area of Columbus. Megan first ventured into the restaurant business in 2010 as the owner of Sunny Street Cafe, 644 N. State St., which she sold this past December.

Having gained the expertise of running three well-established restaurants, Megan is looking forward to adding her fourth just steps away in Uptown.

“When talking with patrons at Asterisk, I will tell them about Ampersand in the Short North and they say, ‘We like to stay in Westerville. We like our bubble.’ And I can understand that,” said Megan, who opened Asterisk in 2016. “I had zero intentions of opening another restaurant, but then I saw the new building on College Avenue. Then we explored the possibility of opening a new Ampersand in Westerville. People like Asterisk a lot and the Ampersand brand is already strong.”

Although Asterisk and Ampersand will reside under Megan’s ownership, the two establishments will have distinct differences that will not only separate the menu selections, but also the customer experience.

“I see the two restaurants feeding off one another really well,” said Megan. “People are definitely talking about it. I get asked about it about 10 times a day. The two places are so different from each other. Asterisk is eclectic and unique with a beautiful old bar. It has afternoon tea. It is one of a kind. Ampersand is more modern and chic. It’s Asian food; a completely different concept.”

Although Asterisk and Ampersand may be contrasting in theme, they rely on two basic commonalities–family and the Uptown Westerville community.

From her parents, to her husband and even her young daughter, family members have contributed in their own way to the success of each of Megan’s restaurants.

Her mother helped with Asterisk’s interior design and decor, while her father provided many of the hundreds of books placed along the shelves inside the restaurant. Her husband, Joshua Cook, created the Ampersand menu and will be head chef at the new Westerville location. Joshua's twin brother, Jeremy, is the head chef of the Short North Ampersand. Last, but far from least, Megan and Joshua’s 8-year-old daughter Ada also has a hand in the family business.

“My daughter really likes to work at Ampersand,” said Megan. “She has her own little chef’s coat. She is really excited about the new restaurant. In summer when school is out, she is really excited to work. She hands out the menus. I have taught her how to punch in orders. She busses tables, polishes glasses and makes bubble tea. We have a special kids’ menu and it is called ‘Ada’s Friends.’”

Overall, Megan, who has owned restaurants in the City for a decade and a half and now resides in Uptown, is thankful for Westerville and Uptown’s embrace of her endeavors and takes pride in providing establishments where community members can gather and socialize.

“Living in Uptown is just amazing. There's so much here,” said Megan. “My daughter dances at Generations. You can walk everywhere. DORA has been great. The people of Westerville and Uptown are really excited and supportive. All these restaurants are coming in. Ampersand in Uptown will do really well.”

For more about Megan’s two Uptown restaurants, visit www.AmpersandAsianSupperClub.com and www.AsteriskSupperClub.com.