Joya's Wins Approval to Expand on High Street in Worthington
Planning commissioners cleared a move from 657 into 661A High St. with about 60 more indoor seats and planned evening service Wed–Sun 5–11 p.m.
Worthington's daytime favorite is about to grow into the evening. The Worthington Municipal Planning Commission on Sept. 10 approved plans for Joya's to expand from 657 High St. into the neighboring space at 661A High St., adding roughly 60 indoor seats and opening the door to dinner service.
Owner and chef Avishar Barua told commissioners the team likes being part of the Worthington streetscape and the building's history. Commission chair Mikel Coulter even joked that the biggest question was why the expansion had not happened sooner. The second floor stays with COhatch; Joya's keeps its current storefront as part of the larger footprint.
Details in this story draw from 614NOW's Sept. 15 approval report and public discussion of the Sept. 10 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. A construction calendar has not been confirmed.
What the expansion adds
Plans call for an accessible entrance, more outdoor seating, and evening hours Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. once the new bay is ready. Current posted hours remain Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., so dinner is the big daypart change rather than a wholesale reinvention of the daytime cafe.
Mechanical updates on the south side of the building will tuck equipment behind fencing after a window is removed for piping. Those are the unglamorous pieces that usually decide how soon a High Street expansion can actually open for evening tickets.
Why it matters for High Street diners
Joya's already pulls brunch and lunch crowds for Bengali-American plates in Old Worthington. Evening service would give the same block a late option without leaving the village core, and the extra seats should ease waits that have become part of the daytime story. Until a build schedule posts, keep treating dinner hours as approved intent rather than a live menu board.
Worthington is not a separate neighborhood tile on this site, so citywide context routes through Columbus. Pair a High Street visit with cheap date night or happy hour by neighborhood once evenings launch. Distinctive local rooms also show up on Best Unique Dining Experiences. Food listings overall start at Things to Do: Food & Drink.
Joya's remains open for daytime service at 657 High St. while the 661A expansion moves from approval toward a still-unconfirmed build timeline.
