April 29, 201510 yr Another addition to the thriving downtown dining cluster on S. Fourth Street between Rich & Main. Red Velvet Café has opened at 246 S. Fourth Street between Little Palace and Dirty Frank’s. CU has a review of the Red Velvet Café: http://www.columbusunderground.com/restaurant-review-red-velvet-cafe-ma1
April 29, 201510 yr Upscale burger bar planned for Cap at Union Station Hyde Park Restaurant Group is bringing a different type of meat to the Cap at Union Station. The Beachwood-based company, best known for its Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse chain, Wednesday said it will convert the old Cup O’Joe/Mojoe Lounge space at 600 N. High St. into Stack City Burger Bar. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/04/29/upscale-burger-bar-planned-for-cap-at-union.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 30, 201510 yr More about the new Hyde Park concept going into the Cap. As the This Week article notes, this new concept will have the Cap almost completely occupied with Hyde Park Restaurant Group tenants: Hyde Park burger concept to take over MoJoe Lounge space BY GARY SEMAN JR., THIS WEEK COMMUNITY NEWS Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - 2:35 PM Following the beefy ambitions of many restaurants, Hyde Park Restaurant Group will open the Stack City Burger Bar in the old Cup O’ Joe/MoJoe Lounge space on the Cap at Union Station. In leasing the 3,260-square-foot space, the Cleveland-based restaurant group has almost entirely commandeered the Cap, which straddles High Street in the Short North. Stack City is expected to open the first week of August at 600 N. High Street. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/2015/04/28/hyde-park-burger-concept-to-replace-mojo-lounge-space.html
April 30, 201510 yr More about this from CU: http://www.columbusunderground.com/stack-city-burger-bar-to-open-on-the-cap-this-summer - Stack City would be the fourth Hyde Park restaurant concept to be located on the Cap. Black Point, Eleven, and the Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse are also located there. - The CU article also reports: "The Cleveland-based restaurant group also owns a three story building several blocks south at the northwest corner of Vine and High, which has future plans there for another restaurant concept." This is the building with the boarded-up windows located next the Yankee Trader Building that was recently renovated.
May 5, 201510 yr The Sonoma Grille Set for Spring Opening in The Arena District By Rebecca Wagner, Columbus Underground April 29, 2015 - 7:30 am The Arena District will getting a dose of California cuisine this spring. The Sonoma Grille, a casual West Coast rustic restaurant, has moved into the former Darz Cafe location on 111 W. Nationwide Boulevard. Construction began in January, with an intensive remodel that included building a full kitchen. The interior of Sonoma will seat 20-25, while the patio will seat 50-75. ( . . . ) An opening is slated for the second week of May. The Sonoma Grille will be open for breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner, with both takeout and catering available. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/the-sonoma-grille-set-for-spring-opening-in-the-arena-district-rw1
May 6, 201510 yr http://www.columbusunderground.com/eat-right-best-patios-for-people-watching-sm1 Nice listing of restaurant patios in Central Ohio (8 in Columbus, 1 in Worthington, 1 in Powell). Plus, I just love the below photo taken from the outdoor dining area on The Cap:
June 3, 201510 yr South Fourth Street between Rich and Main has become a lively downtown bar/restaurant area in recent years with the addition of Little Palace, El Camino, Dirty Frank's and the 16-Bit Barcade. More about these and other surrounding developments was posted here in Columbus Random Developments thread. CU is also reported last year here in this thread that the owners of The Olde Towne Tavern on Oak Street in OTE are planning a similar venue, to be called the Walrus at 143 E. Main Street, a half-block south of the above mentioned S. Fourth Street bar/restaurant cluster. The Walrus would be located in a block of renovated buildings near Fourth & Main - 143 E. Main Street is immediately west of the Hawk Galleries at the corner of Fourth & Main. It is also across Main Street from the historic Hartman Hotel that was renovated into condos and from the Sidebar 122 restaurant that is located in the former Out on Main building at 122 E. Main Street. Now the Walrus has opened at 143 E. Main Street. CU has an interior and exterior photo-tour of this newest venue in this thriving bar/restaurant cluster in downtown Columbus: http://www.columbusunderground.com/photos-the-walrus-opens-downtown View of the Walrus looking east toward the Hawk Galleries at the corner of Fourth & Main: View looking west toward the renovated block of E. Main Street that has ground floor retail and upper story condos: View looking north from the sidewalk dining area toward downtown and across Main Street from the Hartman condo parking lot and the Sidebar 122 building:
June 16, 20159 yr Dick's Last Resort ready to feed, entertain the Arena District Dick’s Last Resort is bringing its signature brand of humor (along with some food and drink) to the Arena District. “It’s all about having a good time,” President Ralph McCracken told me. The formula is simple — eat, drink and laugh. “That never goes out of style,” he said. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/06/15/first-look-dicks-last-resort-ready-to-feed.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 9, 20159 yr Cincinnati restaurant taking La Fogata space in the Short North A wonderfully named Cincinnati restaurant company will land another of its restaurants in the Short North. Thunderdome Restaurant Group plans to bring the Eagle to Columbus, with expectations of opening by next July. Co-owner Joe Lanni told me Wednesday they will take the La Fogata spot at 790 N. High St. The Mexican restaurant has the lease through April 2016. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/07/09/cincinnati-restaurant-taking-la-fogata-space-in.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 16, 20159 yr A Cameron Mitchell steakhouse for Dublin? Cameron Mitchell’s plans for Dublin may include a new steakhouse. The Columbus restaurateur has been interested in the Bridge Park development since its earliest days in planning, but details about what Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC may be doing there have been scant thus far. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/07/15/cameron-mitchell-steakhouse-coming-to-dublin.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 20, 20159 yr Couple more restaurant lists from CU: Best Secluded Patios: http://www.columbusunderground.com/eat-right-best-secluded-patios-sm1 Restaurants with Live Music: http://www.columbusunderground.com/eat-right-restaurants-with-live-music-sm1
July 20, 20159 yr New tenants at two former Liz Lessner spots in the Short North: http://www.columbusunderground.com/new-northstar-cafe-concept-brassica-to-occupy-old-bettys-space-rw1 http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/07/02/local-bar-owners-to-open-in-old-surly-girl-saloon.html
July 20, 20159 yr De-Novo Bistro moving across High Street Fab Dining Group plans to relocate its De-Novo Bistro & Bar. Co-owner Yavonne Sarber told me she plans to lease 6,100 square feet on the street level of the Highpoint at Columbus Commons apartments. The lease would include about 800 square feet set aside for her Fabbre interior-design business, which would have a separate storefront on South High Street. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/07/20/de-novo-bistro-moving-across-high-street.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 23, 20159 yr Creole Kitchen adding dining room, space for live jazz and blues Chef Butcher’s Creole Kitchen LLC is bringing a bigger flavor of New Orleans to Columbus. The tiny creole-style carryout joint in the city’s historic King-Lincoln District will expand by 2,000 square feet to accommodate up to 70 diners and live jazz, blues and poetry reading. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/07/22/king-lincoln-district-carry-out-joint-adding.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 29, 20159 yr Winking Lizard to reopen on Bethel with whiskey bar, more beer taps Winking Lizard Tavern is known for its world-spanning beer selection, but the bar is ready to show off its affinity for whiskey as well. The Bedford Heights-based chain’s 1380 Bethel Road restaurant is in the midst of an expansive remodeling that started in the spring. Co-owner John Lane said the location is expected to re-open by the end of August and, in addition to the complete rehab of the interior, will sport the chain’s Cellarville bar, a second bar from the main one that will be focused on whiskey and feature an additional eight beer taps dedicated to some of the more unusual brew offerings in stock at that time. It also will be situated by a separate small patio for cigar smoking.
July 30, 20159 yr You should be pleased. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 5, 20159 yr Gourmet burger bar opening this week in the Short North Hyde Park Restaurant Group, well-versed with a steak, is ready to show what it can do with burgers. The Beachwood-based restaurant company on Thursday will open Stack City Burger Bar at 600 N. High St. on the Cap at Union Station. The new eatery is filling the 3,260-square-foot space that had been Cup O’Joe/Mojoe Lounge, one of the development’s original tenants. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/08/04/gourmet-burger-bar-opening-this-week-in-the-short.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 5, 20159 yr Bunch of interior photos (plus a few more exteriors) of Stack City opening tomorrow at the Cap from CU: http://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-stack-city-burger-bar
August 5, 20159 yr Brooklyn-based Paulie Gee’s, which was recently declared the best pizza in NYC by a Zagat survey, is slated to open later this fall in the former Short North Coffee House space at 1195 N. High Street: http://www.columbusunderground.com/lauded-brooklyn-pizzeria-paulie-gees-to-open-in-the-short-north-rw1
August 6, 20159 yr Now that's an upgrade! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 7, 20159 yr lol its not the best by a longshot - but...you must order the hellboy pie! http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2013/05/top-this-the-hellboy-a-la-paulie-gees.html
August 7, 20159 yr I love this thread: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/paulie-gees LOL Highlight #1: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/paulie-gees#post-1087943 LOL Highlight #2: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/paulie-gees/page/2/#post-1088036
August 12, 20159 yr Crest Gastropub's food and brews now available on the south side A second Crest Gastropub has opened. Columbus-based A&R Creative Group opened the doors to its latest addition Tuesday, after committing last year to open a new restaurant in south Columbus. The growing restaurant group put the new version of its Clintonville restaurant at the Village Pointe building at 625 Parsons Ave., just south of the Nationwide Children's Hospital campus. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/08/11/crest-gastropubs-food-and-brews-now-available-on.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 27, 20159 yr The next Sbarro isn't going in a mall — it's headed to Clintonville Come this fall you won’t have to be buying new jeans at the mall or flying to a conference to enjoy a slice of Sbarro pizza. The Columbus-based chain said Wednesday it will be opening its first-ever standalone Sbarro pizzeria at 3645 N. High St. in Clintonville. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/08/26/the-next-sbarro-isnt-going-in-a-mall-its-headed-to.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 1, 20159 yr Sbarro bringing new-look pizza shops to Dublin, Worthington, OSU and Clintonville Sbarro isn’t just coming to Clintonville– it’s bringing its standalone pizza shops elsewhere around Central Ohio, and to California and New York too. The Columbus-based chain, best known for more than 800 food court sites, is bringing the brand outside the mall. First up is Clintonville, to be followed quickly by three other Central Ohio units plus pizzerias in other states. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/01/sbarro-bringing-new-look-pizza-shops-to-dublin.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 10, 20159 yr Campus cookie store moving ahead of 15th and High redevelopment A campus-area late-night cookie store is moving along High Street. Insomnia Cookies, which has been delivering cookies and desserts around Ohio State University since 2007, is moving to make way for redevelopment of North High Street and 15th Avenue. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/09/campus-cookie-store-moving-ahead-of-15th-and-high.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 10, 20159 yr Campus cookie store moving ahead of 15th and High redevelopment A campus-area late-night cookie store is moving along High Street. Insomnia Cookies, which has been delivering cookies and desserts around Ohio State University since 2007, is moving to make way for redevelopment of North High Street and 15th Avenue. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/09/campus-cookie-store-moving-ahead-of-15th-and-high.html
September 25, 20159 yr Clintonville's getting an Asian buffet (with sushi) The owner of Wild Ginger Asian Fusion is bringing his sushi expertise to a buffet. Justin Ye, owner of a pair of restaurants in the Hilliard area with Wild Ginger at 1726 Hilliard Rome Road and Haruki East at 2469 Hilliard Rome Road, is adding a third eatery to his Asian portfolio with Sakura Buffet, opening Sept. 30 at 139 Graceland Blvd. in Clintonville. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/24/clintonvilles-getting-an-asian-buffet-with-sushi.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 25, 20159 yr Campus cookie store moving ahead of 15th and High redevelopment A campus-area late-night cookie store is moving along High Street. Insomnia Cookies, which has been delivering cookies and desserts around Ohio State University since 2007, is moving to make way for redevelopment of North High Street and 15th Avenue. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/09/campus-cookie-store-moving-ahead-of-15th-and-high.html https://soundcloud.com/taestell/jake-who-is-buying-all-these-cookies Is this guy serious?! He doesn't know?? Ha. Insomnia delivers to a college campus and the neighborhoods immediately north and south of said campus. Their delivery boundaries include neighborhoods with a really high number of late teen, 20 and 30 something night owls who like to party, drink and blaze. It's peak business hours are probably 11 to 3am when nearby residents suffer from symptoms of their medication, known colloquially as, "The Munchies." I used to order there every now and then until a few months ago when I moved to Cleveland. I wish there was one near me. I'm not a huge fan of cookies but I do commonly get ice cream cravings late at night and they sell it by the pint and have brownie/cookies a la mode so it was always a decent late night option when everything else was closed. I'd watch Netflix late at night with my girlfriend and order Insomnia Cookies for us when there wasn't anything in the fridge. Come to think of it though, Columbus does have a lot of late night options for delivery and living in Old North I really didn't appreciate that like I do now. Almost everything in Cleveland closes at 9pm and is closed all day on Mondays. Why do people in the Food Service Industry hate Mondays so much up here? Boo. :( That building Insomnia Cookies occupies, is a dump. Its hideous on the outside and old, outdated and dirty on the inside to the point that it would be perceived as unsanitary. It's best they move on.
September 25, 20159 yr Campus cookie store moving ahead of 15th and High redevelopment A campus-area late-night cookie store is moving along High Street. Insomnia Cookies, which has been delivering cookies and desserts around Ohio State University since 2007, is moving to make way for redevelopment of North High Street and 15th Avenue. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/09/campus-cookie-store-moving-ahead-of-15th-and-high.html Is this guy serious?! He doesn't know?? Ha. Insomnia delivers to a college campus and the neighborhoods immediately north and south of said campus. Their delivery boundaries include neighborhoods with a really high number of late teen, 20 and 30 something night owls who like to party, drink and blaze. It's peak business hours are probably 11 to 3am when nearby residents suffer from symptoms of their medication, known colloquially as, "The Munchies." I used to order there every now and then until a few months ago when I moved to Cleveland. I wish there was one near me. I'm not a huge fan of cookies but I do commonly get ice cream cravings late at night and they sell it by the pint and have brownie/cookies a la mode so it was always a decent late night option when everything else was closed. I'd watch Netflix late at night with my girlfriend and order Insomnia Cookies for us when there wasn't anything in the fridge. Come to think of it though, Columbus does have a lot of late night options for delivery and living in Old North I really didn't appreciate that like I do now. Almost everything in Cleveland closes at 9pm and is closed all day on Mondays. Why do people in the Food Service Industry hate Mondays so much up here? Boo. :( That building Insomnia Cookies occupies, is a dump. Its hideous on the outside and old, outdated and dirty on the inside to the point that it would be perceived as unsanitary. It's best they move on. Almost everything in Cleveland closes at 9pm and is closed on Mondays? You need to get out more. Cleveland has a booming culinary scene that is open every day. Even Mondays. And way past 9.
September 30, 20159 yr Sbarro opens first 2 standalone shops in Worthington, Dublin The first of the new standalone Sbarros now are open. The food court pizza brand, which relocated its corporate offices to Columbus last year, has opened two of its first four company-owned standalone pizza joints. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/29/sbarro-opens-first-2-standalone-shops-in.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 30, 20159 yr Vegetarian Indian restaurant Gokul Cafe opens near Dublin Some veteran Indian restaurant operators are taking their vegetarian expertise to the Dublin market. Gokul Cafe is open at 2685 Federated Blvd., just off Sawmill Road in a 4,300-square-foot space that was Lee Garden Chinese Restaurant. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/30/vegetarian-indian-restaurant-gokul-cafe-opens-near.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 2, 20159 yr Some changes coming to local fine dining favorite, Alana's Food and Wine: - Alana's Food & Wine going casual, planning move to smaller space next year: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/08/27/alanas-food-wine-going-casual-planning-move-to.html - Alana’s Food and Wine Shifts Casual, Considers Move to Smaller Space: http://www.columbusunderground.com/alanas-columbus-rw1
October 2, 20159 yr And the reason for those changes, in this Business First interview with loveable/irascible chef Alana Shock: Chef Alana Shock on the death of fine dining By Dan Eaton, Staff Reporter Columbus Business First Alana’s Food and Wine is a Columbus dining destination. Chef and owner Alana Shock opened the restaurant, 2333 N. High St., 16 years ago after years working with industry institutions such as Chicago restaurateur Rich Melman and Emeril Lagasse, and in local spots Out on Main and Gourmet Market (now known as Spagio). She hasn’t just seen it all. She’s picked it, chopped it, sauteed it and served it with a nice, full-bodied red. Shock has been on the front lines of a Columbus dining scene that has grown from bland flyover country to underrated off-the-radar food town in the eyes of non-locals. But not every change is positive. The business is as costly as ever and while today’s diners may be more open-minded, they may be in too much of a hurry for their own good: Q: As a chef, what is the biggest change you’ve seen in the past 16 years? A: What has happened in the world is fine dining is dying. Nobody wants to pay for the ritual part of it. No one wants to stop doing everything and have a dining experience. People want to check their email while they’re having dinner with someone. I really feel like to the new generation, fine dining has come to mean something else. I think the new age of diner wants things more casual. They’re still interested in things that fine diners are interested in, but they don’t want to put down their cell phones, they don’t want to dress up and they don’t want to pay the price tags. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2015/05/01/chef-alana-shock-on-the-death-of-fine-dining.html
October 14, 20159 yr I'm late checking in on this thread, but I'm feeling a moment of wistful nostalgia now for Alana's. I only ever ate there twice, so obviously people like me aren't going to keep a place like that in business, but that was really some of the best food I've ever had in my life--and yes, the "fine dining experience," which I was honestly probably too young to appreciate properly at the time, at least the first time (early 20s). I'll be very interested to see how she does the casual concept.
October 21, 20159 yr Italian Village breakfast and lunch spot moving downtown (and bringing its 'bronuts') A revived Cravings Cafe is coming downtown. The four-year-old Italian Village breakfast and lunch spot will be returning to full-time operations as early as January at 114 N. Front St., the former Saigon Palace restaurant space downtown. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/10/21/italian-village-breakfast-and-lunch-spot-moving.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 24, 20159 yr chefsawyer Alright #cbus signing an LOI in Italian Village, a Team Sawyer Restaurant is opening soon... https://instagram.com/p/8dvDhowfrG/
October 26, 20159 yr The long-time restaurant space catty cornered (or diagonally opposite, if you prefer) from the Franklin County Courthouse and across High Street from the new Municipal Courthouse is getting a new restaurant with a court-themed name: - Blind Lady Tavern Replaces 1831 Tavern in Former Jury Room Space: http://www.columbusunderground.com/blind-lady-tavern-rw1
October 27, 20159 yr Love the '80s? Giorgio in Clintonville to become homage to big hair and shoulder pads Though Local Cantina is taking much of George Tanchveski’s attention, it isn’t the only new business he’s working on. The restaurant and bar owner also is in the midst of a rehab on the old Giorgio restaurant space in Clintonville, 2941 N. High St., an Italian restaurant in which he was an investor. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/10/27/i-love-the-80s-bar-giorgio-in-clintonville-to.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 2, 20159 yr Bibibop opening near Dublin, coming to Clintonville and Cleveland Bibibop Asian Grill, which continues to expand in Columbus, is heading to Cleveland next. The Columbus-based fast-casual chain will open its eighth restaurant in just more than two years and its seventh here in Central Ohio on Tuesday. Doors open at 11 a.m. at 6490 Sawmill Road, a site owner Charley Shin told me about earlier this year. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/02/bibibop-opening-near-dublin-coming-to-clintonville.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 3, 20159 yr Once just renting space, Mikey's Late Night Slice now has a bar of its own Mikey’s Late Night Slice is out from behind the counter. The Columbus-based pizza chain opened its first full-service restaurant Monday at 268 S. Fourth St. and the hope is that more are to come. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/02/once-just-renting-space-mikeys-late-night-slice.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 3, 20159 yr Just love this photo of the Mikey's Late Night Slice sign taken from the second floor and looking onto South Fourth Street in CU's photo-tour: http://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-late-night-slice-on-south-fourth-street
November 8, 20159 yr I both love and hate this name: :-) -- Dough Mama Opening Clintonville Cafe Next Week: http://www.columbusunderground.com/dough-mama-rw1
November 8, 20159 yr Talk about a Saturday night bombshell. Columbus Underground is reporting that Kent Rigsby announced last night that his iconic restaurant, Rigsby’s Kitchen, located at 698 N. High Street in the Short North, was closing its doors for good - effective immediately! CU: Rigsby’s Kitchen Closes After 29 Years in Business
November 10, 20159 yr Cameron Mitchell's Grandview steakhouse has a name and an opening date You can start making plans to visit Cameron Mitchell’s long-awaited Grandview restaurant. The Columbus restaurateur Tuesday said he plans to open the Avenue Steak Tavern in early February at 1307 Grandview Avenue, the former Panera Bread Co. (NASDAQ:PNRA) space his company acquired almost two years ago. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/10/cameron-mitchells-grandview-steakhouse-has-a-name.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 16, 20159 yr Talk about a Saturday night bombshell. Columbus Underground is reporting that Kent Rigsby announced last night that his iconic restaurant, Rigsby’s Kitchen, located at 698 N. High Street in the Short North, was closing its doors for good - effective immediately! CU: Rigsby’s Kitchen Closes After 29 Years in Business In the Dispatch article on the closing of Rigsby's Kitchen - http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/11/09/rigsbyxs-kitchen-closes.html - the go-to local retail analyst Chris Boring had this to say about it: -- Rigsby’s was one of the pioneers in the Short North in the 1980's, but as the area exploded with development, it became lost in the crowd, said local retail analyst Chris Boring of Boulevard Strategies. ... “I have always been a proponent of the more the merrier,” said Boring, a Short North resident. “But we have reached a tipping point.” -- Boring studied the area last year and found that there were 45 bars and restaurants in the Short North in 2003. That grew to 70 by 2014. “There are probably too many eating and drinking establishments in the Short North,” he said. “The saturation point is pushing some out of the market.”
November 16, 20159 yr Boring might be at least partially right about an over-saturation of the Short North bar/restaurant market. But it also appears that Chef Kent Rigsby just wanted to move on from some of the burdens of running his signature restaurant. Nearly 30 years is an outstanding run in any business, but particularly a fine dining restaurant. And he's not as young as he was when he opened it back in 1986. Over the weekend, Rigsby announced that he had accepted the position of new executive chef at the New Albany Country Club. More about Rigsby's new position: -- Rigsby Heads to New Albany: http://www.columbusunderground.com/chef-kent-rigsby-new-albany-country-club -- Kent Rigsby heading to New Albany for his next venture: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/16/kent-rigsby-heading-to-new-albany-for-his-next.html This executive chef position seems like it allows Rigsby to focus on his cooking without the distractions of also operating a fine dining restaurant. And it isn't like Rigsby has completely abandoned the Short North anyway. He and his wife Tasi still operate the more casual Tasi's Cafe and the Eleni-Christina Bakery in the Short North. Plus they opened Zoe Cafe in Bexley earlier this year. So the closing of the iconic Rigsby's Kitchen, though sad, looks like a logical repositioning for him and his family.
November 16, 20159 yr CU's founder, Walker Evans, just posted an op-ed looking at the closing of Rigsby's Kitchen in the context of the overall history of the Short North: Opinion: The Short North’s Loss is the Rest of the City’s Gain
November 16, 20159 yr Otterbein grad wants to bring his Wisconsin pizzeria to Columbus A Wisconsin-based pizzeria sees Columbus as an important pice of its Midwest growth plans. Roman Candle Pizzeria, a five-restaurant brand, is hunting for franchisees. While the focus is on growing its Wisconsin footprint, it has singled out Columbus as the one out-of-state market it hopes to expand in. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/16/otterbein-grad-wants-to-bring-his-wisconsin.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 23, 20159 yr Fast-growing pizza chain picks South Campus Gateway for 1st Ohio joint Another fast-growing fast-casual pizza brand is making its way to Columbus. California-based PizzaRev is plotting a restaurant at 1607 N. High St. at South Campus Gateway. It will be the first Ohio site for the chain, which has around 30 restaurants with at least 10 more in the works. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/23/fast-growing-pizza-chain-picks-south-campus.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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