Visit Grove City Trailblazer Awards

Bound By Books is one of the newest shops in the historic Town Center. This local bookstore adds a unique shopping experience where you can go and get lost in a story. Get yourself a book bouquet, a blind book, a new or used title, or just a cute little accessory!

The Messy Mare is a mobile dirty soda truck run by a young entrepreneur. Get delicious drinks and merch from the bright pink trailer, and don't forget your frequent sipper card! Find out more HERE

Mona’s Eats N Treats has been a Grove City tradition for more than 70 years, serving generations of families with soft serve, sandwiches, coneys, and plenty of local memories. Today, Mona’s continues to honor that history while bringing fresh energy through creative seasonal specials, community events, local partnerships, and a welcoming atmosphere for guests and employees alike. More than just a place to grab a cone, Mona’s is a gathering place where Grove City families can slow down, enjoy a treat, and make new memories together.

Plank's on Broadway is the longest-running business in Grove City. This restaurant is inside an old saloon building and offers food that everyone will want! Enjoy a meal and history at Plank's, where, when you walk in, you feel like you are at home.

The Grove City Book Festival started in 2026 in celebration of America's 250 Anniversary. This festival celebrates local authors and makers! The event brought authors from all over and makers with all things bookish.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Little Theatre Off Broadway proudly presents a special one-act performance celebrating the remarkable women who helped shape our community.
Part of the America 250 – Ohio Entertains theme, The Women of Grove City, written by Jeremy Sony, brings history to life through the stories of pioneers, American heroes, and trailblazing civic leaders who have been building community and shaping the future of Central Ohio for more than two centuries.
This production honors the voices, achievements, and lasting impact of the women whose courage and leadership helped define Grove City.

This event by Pride in Grove City honors love, diversity, and community spirit. This is a day filled with vibrant festivities, including entertainment, food, and activities for all ages. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends, meet new people, and show your support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Alex Varney is a lifelong Grove City resident dedicated to strengthening the community through leadership, service, and professional development. As Vice President of Operations at Pinnacle Pets, she has spent the past decade serving thousands of local pets and the families who love them, helping to provide trusted care, education, and peace of mind. As the founder of Considerably Bold, she also works to develop leaders and businesses throughout the pet care industry. Alex serves on the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is Public Image Chair for the Rotary Club of Grove City, serves on the Southwestern Leadership Academy and Chamber Marketing committee, volunteers with Project Life, and supports Southwestern City Schools through its Career-Based Intervention advisory committee. Whether mentoring future leaders, speaking across the country, or investing time in local organizations, Alex is passionate about creating opportunities that help Grove City thrive for generations to come. She believes the strongest communities are built by people who choose to leave every organization, every business, and every person better than they found them.

Autumn Kessler is the founder of “Whole Child. Whole Health.” an initiative aimed at bettering the mental health of children through education, legislation, and community. After growing up in an abusive, low-income household with an incarcerated father, Autumn wanted to use the pain in her life and shape it into a greater purpose. This led her to authoring and illustrating two evidence-informed children’s mental health workbooks and working with various nonprofit organizations specializing in mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

In 2021, Autumn became a founding partner for MTV’s Mental Health Action Day, where she collaborates with over 2,700 nonprofits, brands, governmental agencies, and influential leaders across 32 different countries to share the message that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Autumn volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, where she serves as the Ohio Policy Chair and as a National Advocacy Ambassador. This year at the foundation’s National Advocacy Forum in Washington, DC, Autumn was named the 2026 National Grassroots Advocate of the Year for her work attending more than 124 events across more than 60 Ohio counties in one calendar year, advancing mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts.

In her spare time, Autumn enjoys exploring Ohio festivals and events, as well as pageantry. She currently holds the title of Miss Ohio through Captivating Pageants!

Autumn currently works as the Assistant Director of Development at The Kids Mental Health Foundation, founded by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and she is proud to call Grove City, Ohio her home.

In July 2018, Leslie Garman founded Vitality Athletic Center in an 8,000-square-foot warehouse, serving fewer than 200 students each week. Through an unwavering commitment to students, families, staff, and the Grove City community, Vitality has grown into a thriving athletic center serving nearly 800 students weekly. Today, the center operates from a custom-designed, family-focused facility with more than 15,000 square feet of usable space on 15 acres in Grove City, Ohio.

Beyond her role as a business owner, Leslie is a proud mom of three daughters who are all actively involved in Southwestern City schools, athletics, and community activities. She is honored to call Grove City home and is proud to continue creating a place where young people build confidence, character, and a lifelong love of movement while giving back to the community that has supported Vitality’s journey.

Matt and Ali Groves are the owners of Mona’s Eats N Treats, a Grove City tradition that has served generations of local families for more than 70 years. They are committed to preserving everything people love about Mona’s while finding new ways to make it a welcoming, fun destination for the community. From special events and creative seasonal treats to partnerships with other local organizations and businesses, Matt and Ali work to make Mona’s more than a place to grab a cone. They are proud to support Grove City, create a great workplace for their team, and help families make memories together.

Trey Kauffman is the founder of Mosaic Life Creative, a Grove City studio building custom websites and AI-powered chat agents for service businesses. He previously launched and ran Grove City Events for two years, deepening his roots in the community. Most recently, he designed and built Ayden, an AI architect who works alongside him solving real business problems and helping companies keep the human quality of their customer conversations as they grow.

Trey serves as chair of the Marketing Committee and as a board member for the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, where he helps shape the Chamber's brand strategy and community outreach.

Ryan Johnson is CardCollector2. CardCollector2 was started as an Instagram page back in 2013. This was something that started as a fun hobby, posting pictures of his collection on Instagram. Since then, the online side of the hobby has really taken off.

Now, with over 160,000 Instagram followers, CC2 posts engaging content on a daily basis. CC2 switched to pursue cards full-time in October 2018. In May of 2019, the card shop that CC2 was a customer at became available for purchase and that is where the store came to life.

"Since I was a kid, owning my own sports card store was my goal. It was what I always wanted to do. Although I didn't expect it to happen so early in life, I was ready to take the leap and create my very own card store. I purchased the card store on May 23, 2019. The previous owner had not done too much work to the store, so I decided to close it for a few days to remodel. Thanks to my wife and a good friend, we were able to complete the entire remodel process in five days. I opened for business officially on May 28th, 2019.
Since then, the card store has continued to grow and has been an awesome spot for local collectors to hang out, rip some boxes, and trade. If you're ever in the area, I encourage you to stop by and check it out!"

Vicki is a devoted wife, mother of three beautiful daughters, and co-owner of Plates & Pints in historic Downtown Grove City. Her family includes a daughter beginning her freshman year at The Ohio State University, another entering her freshman year at Bishop Ready High School, and a third grader at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.

Alongside her husband, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law, Vicki co-owns Plates & Pints, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. From leading and supporting her team to ensuring every guest has a great experience, she is the driving force behind the restaurant’s daily success. She is passionate about creating a positive workplace for her employees while delivering exceptional hospitality to every customer who walks through the doors.

Beyond the daily operations, Vicki is constantly looking for new ways to bring people together and strengthen the Grove City community. She has helped introduce comedy nights, improv shows, live music every weekend, Paint & Sip events, and many other community-focused experiences, with even more new events on the horizon. Her goal has always been to make Plates & Pints more than just a restaurant—it is a gathering place where friends, families, and neighbors can connect.

Whether she’s supporting her staff, welcoming guests, or planning the next event, Vicki approaches everything she does with a smile, genuine compassion, and a commitment to making every experience better than the last. Her dedication to her family, her business, her employees, and the Grove City community is what makes her a true Trailblazer.

Grove City Card Fest is hosted by CardCollector2 Sports Cards at Central Crossing High School. The event started in 2025, and the attendance was so great that they just kept it going and growing! This event brings card collectors from near and far to Grove City. Grove City Card Fest also gives back to the community. The Central Crossing Band provides concessions, and part of the admission fee goes back to the band.

Founded in 2014, MoB Apparel started as an indoor baseball and softball training facility, creating custom uniforms and spirit wear for local teams. As they grew alongside their customers, so did their services.

What started with custom uniforms and spirit wear has grown into a full-service custom apparel company, proudly serving schools, businesses, sports teams, nonprofits, and organizations throughout Central Ohio.

Through it all, they've remained committed to quality, community, and continually finding ways to get better.

Trapper Johns has been privileged to operate on the State and National Scenic Big Darby Creek for 50 years. This pristine environment is one of the Western Hemisphere's last great places, with its superior health and bio-diverse ecosystem.

The ownership, management, and staff dedicate their summers to providing a fun, safe, and family-friendly outdoor activity that anyone can enjoy. From beginner to experienced paddler, this place offers something for all. Plus, check out the Creekside Cafe inside the livery for delicious coffee drinks and locally made sweets!