3CDC Unveils Branding for Entertainment District Around Fountain Square

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) has unveiled new branding for the heart of downtown Cincinnati. “The Fountain District” helps identify the area around Fountain Square that features a collection of uniquely Cincinnati restaurants, bars, arts and entertainment institutions and civic spaces.

3CDC says while working on projects around downtown’s Central Business District (CBD), it noticed the significant number of locally owned businesses surrounding Fountain Square, especially within two blocks of any direction. Saying entertainment districts in other cities typically feature national chains, 3CDC felt that creating the Fountain District would be a good way to celebrate these local businesses, as well as help support and promote them. The name, of course, is a nod to the anchor of everything: Fountain Square.

"This area of downtown is so special and filled with incredible businesses, but it’s been lacking a true identity," Christy Samad, 3CDC's executive vice president of Civic & Commercial Space Activation, said in a press release. "Especially since the pandemic, the term Central Business District does not accurately convey what we have here, because it is so much more than a central business district. We hope that this new brand will encourage people to rediscover the area and see all that it has to offer."

3CDC adds it hopes patrons will think of the Fountain District like they would of other well-known entertainment districts, associating the area as the home of restaurants like Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, Mita’s, Boca, Sotto, Via Vite and The Davidson, rather than a loose collection of businesses.

The nonprofit is debuting a print and digital ad campaign this week to raise awareness of the Fountain District, asking Cincinnatians to celebrate and support the businesses in the district. It says this new identity will also help out-of-town visitors or those who don’t spend much time downtown hone in on a more specific area within the CBD to spend time in.

3CDC says local agency goDutch helped develop the Fountain District’s brand identity and assisted in the strategy and planning around the brand’s rollout. Focus groups with area stakeholders were held earlier in the year and representatives from bars, restaurants, the arts, hotels, corporate businesses and civic organizations, including the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, also participated in those focus groups.

Learn more about the Fountain District here .