Eight Years of Flavor, Family & Community: ZeeKey’Z Celebrates Downtown

There’s something special about watching a locally owned business reach a milestone — especially when that business has become part of the personality of Downtown Columbus.

This month, Zeekey’z Pork in a Boat is celebrating eight years in business, and the Trackside District is happy to celebrate right along with Wayne and Karma Zysset.

Located at 2407 11th Street, Zeekey’z is one of those places that is unmistakably local. There’s barbecue coming off the smoker, home-cooked specials, fresh-squeezed lemonade and, almost certainly, a conversation waiting when you walk through the door.

Over the past eight years, Wayne and Karma have served a lot of meals, welcomed a lot of customers and built a business that reaches well beyond the walls of their downtown restaurant.

More Than a Downtown Lunch Shop

While many know Zeekey’z as a favorite place to grab lunch downtown, others have discovered Wayne and Karma’s cooking through their food trucks, catering and appearances at community events.

Whether serving customers at the restaurant or taking their food on the road, Zeekey’z has become a familiar part of Columbus.

And that’s one of the things we appreciate most about our locally owned businesses.

They don’t simply occupy storefronts. Their owners participate in community events, support local activities, get to know their customers and help create the experiences people associate with downtown.

Zeekey’z has done exactly that.

Eight Years is Worth Celebrating

Running a small business takes commitment, long hours, adaptability and plenty of hard work.

Reaching eight years is no small accomplishment.

It also doesn’t happen without customers.

On their anniversary, Wayne and Karma have been quick to express their gratitude to the people who have supported Zeekey’z along the way — their family, friends, employees and the customers who continue to walk through their doors.

Some customers come in for a quick lunch. Others stay awhile. Some have been supporting Zeekey’z for years, while others are just discovering it.

Together, they have helped a local business grow into a familiar part of the Trackside District.

The Businesses That Give Downtown Its Personality

Every locally owned downtown business adds something different to the district.

Restaurants like Zeekey’z give people another reason to come downtown, meet a friend for lunch, stop during the workday or make Downtown Columbus part of their plans.

But perhaps more importantly, independent businesses bring something that can't be duplicated: their own personality.

Zeekey’z certainly has plenty of that.

From the name itself to Wayne and Karma behind the counter, this is a business that has always done things its own way — and we think Downtown Columbus is better because of it.

The story of how Zeekey’z came to be is every bit as colorful as the business itself. A recent Columbus Telegram feature took readers deeper into Wayne and Karma’s journey, including the food trucks, the origins of the Zeekey’z name and how their downtown restaurant came to be.

For us at the Trackside District, however, this anniversary is an opportunity to simply say thank you and congratulations.

Thank you for investing in downtown.

Thank you for feeding the community.

Thank you for participating in the events and activities that bring people together.

And thank you for choosing the Trackside District as the place to call home.

Congratulations to Wayne, Karma and the entire Zeekey’z family on eight years in business. Here’s to many more!

Next time you’re downtown, stop in, grab some lunch and help us congratulate them on this milestone.

Dine. Shop. Explore & Experience the Trackside District.