Howlite Magazine

Stepping into a mini–Las Vegas is the only way to describe going to an event at The Valley. This intimate nightlife spot on the historic South Fourth Street is adding to the landscape of Columbus’s arts scene.

I got to talk with Nikolas Ricks and ask about how the company Valley Soulz got its start, the concept behind the Valley and plans for new Soulz Market.  

Originally from Akron, Ohio, Ricks was living in Colorado when he got the idea of Valley Soulz while trying to support a local group of kids.

Ricks explained he was calling his friend of ten years Danny Roach to brainstorm ideas for a business. One week while brainstorming, Ricks met a kid who needed a pair of shoes to properly compete in a wrestling tournament. Ricks was already pitching the idea of this space that combined music, art and fashion and he thought why not also give back to the community in some way too.

“We went, got him some shoes, and then it led to me turning around and telling Danny. We should make Valley Soulz. We should add all these creative aspects to it, but our focus should be getting these kids shoes,” Ricks said. “He loved it, thought it was an incredible idea.”

According to Ricks this new project was originally going to be lifestyle brand with a “Footlocker experience” in a “Live Nation venue.”

This didn’t end up happening after Ricks moved to Las Vegas, but the Valley Soulz brand continued the path of creating experiences and supporting kids in Colorado.

Ricks explained he pitched a pivot to entertainment Roach after this move and started to get out there and develop a team to make the new vision a reality.

“Initially, it was all right, well, let’s just throw some really good events under a really good brand name. And then it was let’s not just do that, but let’s also have like a security team. Let’s also help this business as far as getting them to understand their pour alternatives,” Ricks said. “We’re in the entertainment capital of the United States, so we have to figure a way to stand out. ‘Hey, when Valley Soulz comes in and hosts an event here, they’ll not only try to curate what the space looks like, but they’ll also do all of these other things for you.’”

Ricks said he knew Valley Soulz would eventually settle down and have a venue of their own but didn’t know where that would be or when it would happen. When he came back to Ohio to visit his brother he learned about South Fourth Street and it just clicked.

“I just had gotten told about this area. I came down this block, and then I started doing research on it,” Ricks said. “Knowing what El Camino used to be in this neighborhood too.  I was like, you know, what if we make people go,‘Oh wait, there’s something there now.’ If we can just pique your interest like that, it’s like okay, this could be a spot.”

The spot Ricks said he wanted to create in The Valley is one where you can see people from all walks of life sitting down and enjoying each other’s company.

“[We] wanted to be able to look at the bar and see a lawyer, a journalist, a singer-songwriter, a guest, and a bartender from Mikey’s all at the bar,” Ricks said. “Every single time that we thought about something in here, we would always go, ‘How close can we get this to fit everybody?’”

The Valley has hosted a verity of events to support this vision. From rock concerts and stripped-down acoustic shows to comedy open mics and date nights, Ricks said he tries to include something for everyone.

In addition to The Valley, Ricks said the Valley Soulz experience is expanding in a new venue called Soulz Market.

Soulz Market will be a place to enjoy coffee, pancakes and pastries, according to Ricks this is because being a community doesn’t just mean being there at nighttime it means being there in the day and night.

“We wanted to find our way to be within the block,” Ricks explained. “When you’re saying you want to create a community and you want to bring a block back, we compete in some ways, yes, but we don’t need another hot dog, pizza, or chicken spot on the road.”

If you are looking for community in Columbus, day or night check out the Valley Soulz website for information on The Valley and Soulz Market. Upcoming events are also posted on The Valley and Soulz Market Instagram accounts.