Rigsby's latest venture to feature take-home meals, breakfast foods

 

As one Short North specialty shop moves south, another is planning to take its place.  Columbus restaurateur Kent Rigsby, owner of Rigsby's Kitchen and the Eleni-Christina Bakery, plans to open Tasi, a breakfast-and- sandwich eatery that also will sell prepared take-home meals. It will operate at 680 N. Pearl St., where the Pistachio pastry shop is vacating this month.

 

"For a long time I've wanted a casual venue in the neighborhood, something that would use our breads as a focal point," Rigsby said.  He's partnering with his wife, Tasi, the restaurant's namesake, and Matt Radcliffe, a cook at Rigsby's who will be the general manager at Tasi.

 

Pistachio is expected to leave the storefront at mid-month for a spot at 541 S. Third St. in German Village.  Rigsby expects to open Tasi by the first week of September.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/08/13/newscolumn1.html?b=1186977600^1504981

I was watching the Reds game and one of the sportscasters lives in Cbus and said that you guys were getting a Montgomery Inn? Is this true?

 

I would guess it has to be finalized for him to know? ...

oy! ohio and its miserable hand me down kc-style 'cue fixations. syrup is for your waffles not your bbq. ugh.

 

for me it texas-style bbq or bust. call me when somebody who knows kreuz comes to town.

oy! ohio and its miserable hand me down kc-style 'cue fixations. syrup is for your waffles not your bbq. ugh.

 

for me it texas-style bbq or bust. call me when somebody who knows kreuz comes to town.

 

I'm guessing you've never ate at Montgomery Inn, eh?

I heard that there was one going in Dublin but I thought that was a rumor.

Bravo bringing renewed party focus to former Lindey's outlet at Polaris

 

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/othercities/columbus/stories/2007/08/27/newscolumn2.html?b=1188187200^1511458

 

Bravo Development Inc. hopes its newest Brio Tuscan Grille will be a draw for parties.  The Columbus restaurant company will open its 22nd Brio Sept. 10 at Polaris Fashion Place in the space once occupied by the company's second Lindey's restaurant.

 

That mission is to develop Italian restaurants through the company's upscale Brio chain and its 36-restaurant Bravo Cucina Italiana. The Polaris Lindey's was based on the original German Village restaurant started by Sue Doody, the mother of Bravo founders Rick and Chris Doody.

 

Pastry focus to draw patrons to new cafe

 

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/othercities/columbus/stories/2007/08/27/newscolumn2.html?page=2&b=1188187200^1511458

 

Anand Saha made some sweet music at his Mozart's Bakery and Cafes, but he's also hit some sour notes in 12 years of business.  With his newest shop at the Bexley Gateway complex on East Main Street opening Aug. 17, Saha thinks he has the business plan to make it Mozart's Inc.'s top performer.

 

"I want this Mozart's to be the store that represents what Mozart's can be," he said. "I've opened several, closed some, but I think I've found the recipe for success."  The cafe represents a renewed focus on pastries for the business. While lighter fare, such as soups and salads, will be on the menu, the bulk of business will be in sweets and desserts.

Lawsuit ruffles feathers of campus chicken joint

 

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/othercities/columbus/stories/2007/08/27/newscolumn2.html?page=2&b=1188187200^1511458

 

A former chicken joint franchisee has run afoul of its old franchisor.  Laurel, Md.-based Cluck-U Corp. sued Columbus-based CUC of Columbus Inc. Aug. 17 in U.S. District Court, alleging breach of contract and trademark infringement.

 

Cluck-U, which has 32 restaurants mostly on the East Coast, said in the suit that it terminated its franchise agreement with CUC in June following violations of their franchise agreement, but the campus-area restaurant continues to operate as Cluck-U, using company trade secrets and trademarks.

 

Customers might wear different hats, but Betty's stays the same

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/09/10/focus2.html?b=1189396800^1516567

 

Betty's Bar owner Shorty Temple has seen it all in the Pen West area of Columbus.  She grew up serving beer and burgers to factory workers and Ohio Penitentiary guards at the bar she now owns at 435 W. Nationwide Blvd.  Only now, the tavern/diner serves the same fare to construction workers, hockey fans and concert goers.

 

Temple says she's looking forward to Columbus Clippers fans discovering her place and adding new customers to her regulars, which currently fluctuate between white- and blue-collar workers representing the history of the neighborhood.  Savvy hipsters have already adopted the place as a before- or after-event hangout, eschewing newer Arena District establishments.  The bar even offers musical entertainment on busier nights.

Rise & Dine raising its growth goal

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/09/10/story6.html?b=1189396800^1517384

 

Rise & Dine is living up to its name.  As more people dine, more of its restaurants rise.  The Columbus-based chain had 10 restaurants in Florida and called the Sunshine State home a year ago. The breakfast-and-lunch specialist now has its headquarters in the Arena District, six additional restaurants and six more expected to open by early 2008.  The network that once extended only to the borders of Florida now includes Ohio, Missouri and Texas.

 

"Ohio has a reputation as an incubator for startups and restaurant concepts. It's natural for us to want to build from here," said Gary Hoyle, CEO of Peach's Franchise LLC, franchisor of Rise & Dine restaurants.  The restaurants were initially named Peach's Rise & Dine, but Hoyle canned the Peach's reference in February, not long after the company's first Ohio restaurant opened at 1282 W. Fifth Ave. near Grandview Heights.

 

Jasons gets started on larger restaurant, banquet facility in Worthington

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/09/10/newscolumn1.html?b=1189396800^1517476

 

Jason Liu started his restaurant career with a simple, mall-based Chinese restaurant in Worthington before moving on to a more ambitious, upscale venture in Dublin.  When he decided to open a second Jasons Restaurant & Bar, the choice of location was easy.  "I was in Worthington for 15 years," Liu said. "I always said if I do another, I wanted to come back."

 

Sunrise rises over Linworth-Worthington area

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/09/10/newscolumn1.html?b=1189396800^1517476

 

Folks from northeast Ohio apparently stay committed to their hometown pizza.  First, Steubenville-style pizza arrived in Central Ohio with Ohio Valley favorite DiCarlo's.  Now a Warren-based parlor has expanded to Columbus.  Sunrise Inn Express opened in late August at 2234 W. Dublin-Granville Road in Columbus, hoping to hook transplants with memories of the original and the uninitiated looking for a new pizza.

 

Don Fowler and Nick Kalogeras opened the takeout-only spot in a building that once was home to the original Hoggy's Restaurant.  Fowler remains a Warren resident, while brother-in-law Kalogeras lives in Columbus.  Both are friends of the Haidaris family, which owns the original two Warren pizza parlors, one a full-service restaurant and the other a takeout-only spot.

Customers might wear different hats, but Betty's stays the same

 

She's got our business.

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/09/17/daily25.html?surround=lfn

 

Max & Erma's triples loss in 3Q, considers sale

 

Pittsburgh Business Times -

8:50 AM EDT Thursday, September 20, 2007

 

Max & Erma's Restaurants Inc. said it is considering selling the chain as it reported its losses in the latest quarter more than tripled.  The Columbus-based restaurant chain said the loss in its third quarter ended Aug. 5 widened from $295,000, or 12 cents a share, in the third quarter of 2006 to $968,000, or 38 cents a share, this year.  Revenue was down 3 percent at $39.2 million in the quarter, compared with $40.6 million in the same period last year.

 

So sad to see them struggling...  hopefully a private investor will come and bail them out.  The restaurants seem to perform well from a popularity point of view...

Spots around arena ramp up for start of hockey season

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A rock star couldn’t ask for a bigger party. Taverns and restaurants in and near the Arena District are starting opening-night festivities for the Blue Jackets nearly a day and a half before the puck hits the ice in Nationwide Arena.  It all begins with a morning radio show Thursday at the Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar at 343 N. Front Street.  "Wags and Elliott will be at the bar from 5 to 10 a.m. to kick off the party," said Randy Haffey, Frog Bear’s marketing director.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/10/02/rest_1002.ART_ART_10-02-07_C10_TS4RB1O.html?sid=101

Italian Pub principals heading into 2nd golf course, prepare new chain

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/01/newscolumn1.html

 

A team of investors and restaurant professionals have no intentions of dropping the anchor on development plans for their Italian cuisine chain.

 

Italian Pub Group Inc., a subsidiary of Columbus-based real estate investment group Anchor Cos., is ready to add a fourth restaurant to its portfolio, while prepping plans to start a second chain.

 

The company runs two Vito's Italian Pub dining spots in Grove City and Hilliard, as well as Cimi's Bistro, the public restaurant at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City.

 

Brett Post, director of operations for Italian Pub Group, said Vito's will get a third outlet soon when the clubhouse at New Albany Links is converted to accommodate one of the restaurants. Pinnacle and New Albany Links are owned and were developed by Joe Ciminello and partners.

ON RESTAURANTS

Ambience sets steakhouse apart

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - 3:37 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Jason Chang's new venture, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, just north of Easton Town Center, takes the tableside-chef concept upscale.  Chang has specialized in traditional Chinese restaurants since the start of his career in Columbus, but for this restaurant, he said, he wanted to branch out.  "We wanted a nice place, small and casual, and yet something grand that would let us show off," Chang said last week as contractors and chefs put the finishing touches on the place at 3884 Morse Road.  The restaurant has been serving diners since Thursday and will have its grand opening Wednesday night.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/10/23/rest_0226.ART_ART_10-23-07_C10_VA9FB20.html?sid=101

Ruth's Chris buying Mitchell's Steakhouse, Fish Market chains

Business First of Columbus - November 6, 2007

 

Cameron Mitchell put his Fish Market chain on the acquisition menu earlier this year, but in closing a deal, he added a side of steak. The restaurateur's Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC announced the sale of its 19 Fish Markets, two Mitchell's Steakhouses and one Cameron's Steakhouse to Heathrow, Fla.-based Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc. for $94 million.  CEO Mitchell, in a release from the company, called it an extraordinary opportunity and a bittersweet time.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/mobile/stories/2007/11/05/daily14.html

Boston's heading to Marysville for its 1st pizza joint, sports bar in Ohio

 

A Dallas restaurant chain that originated in Canada and is named after a New England city is headed for Central Ohio.  Boston Pizza Restaurants LP plans to open Ohio's first Boston's Gourmet Pizza restaurant this year at 1099 Lydia Drive in Marysville.

 

"We've had our eye on the Ohio market for a few years now," said Ted Beaman, Boston Pizza's vice president of business development.  Tim and Carla Emery, through Trinity Management Group Marysville LLC, are the franchisees and plan to open the 6,400-square-foot restaurant and sports bar by mid-December. It is expected to be the first of three Boston's restaurants for the Columbus area.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/12/newscolumn1.html?b=1194843600^1548634

West Coast Mexican chain trains sights on Central Ohio

 

A growing quick-service Mexican food chain is finding success in recruiting established sandwich shop owners into its business.  The trend is holding true in Central Ohio, where two Subway operators are joining Seattle-based Taco Del Mar Franchising Corp.'s expanding reach.  Area developers Tarek Monowar-Jones and Greg Walker would like to open 55 to 70 Taco Del Mar shops in the coming years in Columbus and southeast Ohio.

 

The first two stores, in New Albany and Canal Winchester, are scheduled to open by March 2008.

 

Read more at

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/12/newscolumn1.html?b=1194843600^1548634&page=2

Quick-serve Italian coming to Grandview area

 

John "Guido" Magnacca was planning to open a quick-service version of his Italian restaurants within the next year. Sometimes opportunity knocks sooner than expected.  Vito's Cucina is expected to open in December at 1453 Grandview Ave. in Columbus, in space recently vacated by Krystyna's Deli & Market.

 

Vito's Cucina is a scaled-down version of Magnacca's full-service Vito's Italian Pub, which operates in three locations. Magnacca plans to set up a commissary at the Hilliard Vito's Italian Pub, where many of the dishes will be prepared.  The shop of less than 1,000 square feet will include a dining area, but most of the business is expected to be takeout, Magnacca said.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/12/newscolumn1.html?b=1194843600^1548634&page=3

talk about feeding into stereotypes, the chow news in cols is acres of chains, chains & more chains! its like i never moved away.  :|

^Columbus isn't all chains.  See this story about how many local restaurants have gotten their start in the North Market. 

 

 

Vendors find wings at market

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 3:36 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Jeni Britton just signed a lease for a space in the Bexley Gateway project for what will be her fourth Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams shop.  Nida and Chris Perry are close to opening their first free-standing restaurant, Nida's Thai on High, at 976 N. High St. in the Short North.  Don Ziliak's Due Amici, a fine-dining establishment at 67 E. Gay St. has been around since December 2004. 

 

The three have one thing in common: They all got their start in the restaurant business at the North Market.  The venerable marketplace at 59 Spruce St. has become something of a restaurant incubator.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/10/13/rest_1013.ART_ART_10-13-07_C10_VA9FB20.html?sid=101

Jeni's adds Bexley to chain's roster, but cool on a continued expansion

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/19/newscolumn1.html?b=1195448400^1552025

 

Jeni Britton Bauer is ready to put the freeze on the growth of her popular ice cream shop chain, but not before doling out a helping to Bexley.  Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams LLC plans to open a 1,100-square-foot store at the Bexley Gateway, nestled between Mozart's Bakery and Cafe and the Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern. The shop would open early next spring.

 

Cork ready to pop at new Worthington-area wine bar

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/19/newscolumn1.html?b=1195448400^1552025&page=2

 

Dave Hunt leaned heavily on his years living in northern California when he decided to open his wine shop and tasting bar. But it was a Central Ohio operation that served as the ultimate inspiration.  Hunt and partner Shannon Carroll plan to open The Winery at 8231 N. High St. in Columbus on Nov. 19.

Italian food and heated patio come to Gahanna

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH 

 

The latest in Italian style cuisine is opening in the Creekside Gahanna project on Saturday. Mezzo Italian Kitchen and Wine, at 130 Creekside Plaza, off Mill Street, will feature pizzas, pastas and entrees in an upscale casual setting.  "We can hold up to 60 people on our outdoor patio overlooking Big Walnut Creek," manager Jon Cohen said.  The patio will be open year-round, thanks to a special heating system built into the awning.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/11/27/rest_1127.ART_ART_11-27-07_C10_FP5JM39.html?sid=101

Warehouse Cafe - 243 N. 5th St.

Eatery provides variety, value

Thursday, November 29, 2007 

By Aaron Beck, The Columbus Dispatch

 

At breakfast and lunch, the Warehouse Cafe, 243 N. 5th St., merges grocery-store prices with the leisure of the public-dining experience.  Organic-food diehards must dine elsewhere, but those not observing strict sociopolitical dietary laws will appreciate the $1.50 plates of fries, $3 omelets and more than 20 sandwiches and wraps from $2.35 to $5.25.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/11/29/rest_1129.ART_ART_11-29-07_C10_VA9FB20.html?sid=101

 

Albanian fusion.

 

We're all going to Hell.

Montgomery Inn opening Columbus site

 

The Montgomery Inn, a dining icon in Cincinnati, will open a restaurant at Dublin's Shoppes at River Ridge, near Columbus. The restaurant, celebrated for its ribs and sauce, will become the company's fourth and its first eatery outside southwest Ohio. It has locations on the Cincinnati riverfront, Montgomery and Fort Mitchell.

 

Columbus-based K2 Group LLC, the developer of the $24 million retail center, said the restaurant company signed a lease for an 11,500-square-foot spot in the 103,000-square foot complex. Montgomery Inn plans to open in 2008, the developer said.

 

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/12/03/daily7.html

Veteran restaurateur returning to Broad & High with two cafes

 

Almost 20 years after Kevin Ames pushed hot dog lunch carts around downtown Columbus, he is returning to where his Central Ohio food career began with plans for a pair of restaurants.  Ames plans to open Cafe Lola in December and Cinco in spring near Broad and High streets in a bid to capture a slice of the downtown lunch market.

 

Ames isn't stopping with Cafe Lola.  He plans to open Cinco on the ground floor of the Huntington building at 17. S. High St. That restaurant also would serve fast-casual fare, offering burritos and salads. The average lunch check will be $5, a figure that gave the restaurant its name. Cinco will have seating for 75 patrons inside and 30 on a patio.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/12/03/newscolumn1.html?b=1196658000^1557957

Possible land deal to help Hoggy's grow business

 

A property listing shows the availability of Hoggy's Polaris restaurant, but the barbecue joint's CEO said the pulled pork and smoked brisket are staying.  The Polaris dining spot is the most popular Hoggy's, and proceeds from a property sale would be used in part to beef up the company's catering operations, Huter said.

 

The past year has been a busy one for the chain, as it closed its original restaurant in Linworth, replaced it with one on Sawmill Road in Dublin and closed its Grove City eatery in August.  Huter said the company is in no rush to add restaurants, but added expansion remains a goal. Hoggy's runs a restaurant in Crestview Hills, Ky., outside Cincinnati and one in Valley View, near Cleveland.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/12/03/newscolumn1.html?b=1196658000^1557957&page=2

Veteran restaurateur returning to Broad & High with two cafes

 

Almost 20 years after Kevin Ames pushed hot dog lunch carts around downtown Columbus, he is returning to where his Central Ohio food career began with plans for a pair of restaurants.

 

Ames plans to open Cafe Lola in December and Cinco in spring near Broad and High streets in a bid to capture a slice of the downtown lunch market.

 

He plans to open Cinco on the ground floor of the Huntington building at 17. S. High St.

 

This is great news! 

 

The Cafe Lola space is currently being worked on in the ground floor of 8 E. Broad Street, which is part of Casto's Broad & High redevelopment project.

'Soup Nazi' to open shop at Broad & High

 

The soup restaurateur immortalized in a 1994 "Seinfeld" episode is setting up shop in downtown's renovated Broad and High complex.

 

Casto, the Columbus-based developer of the $22 million three-building renovation at the heart of downtown, said an Original SoupMan franchise will open in early January, also the target opening for the renovated space. The restaurant is the first of its kind in Ohio.

 

The Original SoupMan restaurant will take up 1,664 square feet of the building's 9,000-square-foot street-level space, which also will house WCMH studios and Cafe Lola. Casto spokesman Adam Wolinetz said about 3,600 square feet remain available.

 

The Original SoupMan franchise was born in 1984 on 42nd Street in Manhattan with owner Al Yeganeh's Soup Kitchen International, and gained notoriety a decade later with a "Seinfeld" episode inspired by the owner that popularized the nickname "Soup Nazi." Since then, dozens of stores have opened in the U.S. and Canada in addition to the franchise's grocery store sales.

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/12/10/daily2.html?b=1197262800^1561940

^That should be an instant success in that location... granted it is a well run restaurant with good soup.

^^More soup for Columbus!

Mexican chain taking over area Don Pablo's restaurants

 

A Minnesota Mexican restaurant franchise is heading to Columbus after snapping up the city's three Don Pablo's eateries.  Inner Grove Heights, Minn.-based Baja Sol Restaurants Group Inc. said its Columbus franchisee, SCCIP Inc., acquired the Don Pablo's restaurants on Olentangy River Road, Noe-Bixby Road and West Dublin-Granville Road with plans to convert them to Baja Sol over the next few months.

 

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but the buy was part of 83 Don Pablo's and Hops Grillhouse & Brewery restaurants parent company Avado Brands Inc. sold in late November, SCCIP President Chris Scott said. The Madison, Ga.-based company went private and emerged from bankruptcy in 2005 but filed Chapter 11 again in September.

 

Read more at

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/12/10/daily26.html?surround=lfn

Brownstone on Main, 122 E. Main St.

 

Boo!

Now this is just depressing.  Boo Wendy's!

 

Wendy's throws in the towel Downtown

Friday,  January 4, 2008 - 3:05 AM

By Monique Curet, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Wendy's International has closed its last Downtown restaurant, at the Fifth Third Center.  The company-owned restaurant, which opened in 1998 when Fifth Third expanded its skyscraper, had insufficient sales, said Denny Lynch, a Wendy's spokesman.  Wendy's closed its original Broad Street restaurant last year.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/04/wendys.html?sid=101

Well, now that City Center is basically closed, Wendy's really had no choice.  It was a terrible location (only Vern-Riffe and MAYBE Huntington could benefit from it).  Now had they put Wendy's along Broad between High and 3rd, it'd would've worked or even High north of Broad, anywhere.

Interesting article on the rise and fall of the Gibby's restaurants in Columbus.  Told from an insider's perspective, the Gibby's founder.  Helps explain why some seemingly successful restaurants close down.

 

Gibby's founder forced to move on

Tuesday,  January 15, 2008 6:07 AM

By Bill Chronister

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

You might not know Brian Gibson. He's the man behind Gibby's restaurants, which have served diners at a number of locations in Franklin County for nearly 20 years. But no longer. An overriding desire to expand the business, combined with a thinner bank account, has sent him careening out of restaurants. Gibson opened his first restaurant at 482 S. Front St. in the Brewery District in October 1988 with his friend, Jeff Edwards. Edwards, who helped develop the Brewery District, had been a high-school chum, working with Gibson at his parents' Hoot's Deli on E. Town Street.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/15/gibbys.html?sid=101

Pizza Fusion: A pizza joint Al Gore could love might be coming here

Tuesday,  January 22, 2008 - 5:45 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Pizza lovers in central Ohio could be eating green by the end of this year, if all goes as planned for a small outfit in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  A franchisee based in Pennsylvania owns development rights in an area that includes central Ohio and will begin opening restaurants in March, starting with a suburban Pittsburgh unit.  Plans call for a central Ohio restaurant by the end of the year, although a location has not been announced.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/22/rest_0122.ART_ART_01-22-08_C10_7494FC7.html?sid=101

 

I...want...DEWEY'S!

News we can all be happy about.  Wendy's "red wig" ad campaign is going away!

 

Wendy's sheds its 'red-wig' campaign

Study of possible sale nearly done, statement says

Tuesday,  January 29, 2008 - 3:04 AM

By Monique Curet, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Wendy's International made two announcements yesterday that appear aimed at soothing frustrations with lackluster restaurant performance and a drawn-out process for the possible sale of the company.  The company said it will do away with its "red-wig" advertising campaign, which has been a lightning rod for criticism.  It also said that a special committee exploring the possible sale of the company might be wrapping up the months-long process.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/29/wendys29.ART_ART_01-29-08_C10_UP96JTK.html?sid=101

 

All-American fare

New Liberty Tavern adds historical spin to downtown Powell

Tuesday,  January 29, 2008 - 3:01 AM

By Bill Chronister

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Partner Tim Picciano chose the name for the restaurant based on its location, at 50 S. Liberty St. in the city's historic district. And he has steeped himself in the lore of a tavern from 240 years ago: the Liberty Tree Tavern in Dorchester, Mass., where the Sons of Liberty held a daylong "dinner" on Aug. 14, 1769, in commemoration of rioting against the hated Stamp Act of four years earlier. "It's a rebirth of history," Picciano said as he and managing partner Emil Skasko and general manager Michael Frank put finishing touches on the new building. The restaurant is scheduled to open Feb. 11.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/29/rest_0129.ART_ART_01-29-08_C10_UP96IQU.html?sid=101

 

 

Old Bag of Nails Pub

Pub owner going with the flow: Tropics, tradition going into rebuilding of Old Bag of Nails

Tuesday,  February 5, 2008 - 3:06 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

OK, it's a big hole in the ground with what looks like a cement water slide beside it. But that's more than it was a month ago, much less than it will be in three months. Eventually, owners hope it becomes a landmark on the Near East Side for years to come.  Mike Purdum decided to go all out in rebuilding the Old Bag of Nails Pub just across Alum Creek from Bexley.  The restaurant, 18 N. Nelson Rd., was Purdum's first in what has become a chain of eight -- soon to be nine.  It was burned to the ground about a year ago by homeless people looking for shelter.

 

Read moreat http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/02/05/rest_0205.ART_ART_02-05-08_C12_9I98P2K.html?sid=101

Mitchell's latest is ... Blue Amber?

Business First of Columbus

By Doug Buchanan, Business First

Friday, February 1, 2008

 

Cameron Mitchell is keen on making his Mitchell's Ocean Club restaurant his next growth vehicle, but not under that name.  Two factors are preventing the company from taking the Mitchell's Ocean Club name outside Columbus.  First, a restaurant in one of the company's target markets has a similar name.  And, as a condition of the company's sale last year of its Mitchell's Fish Market chain to Heathrow, Fla.-based Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc., Mitchell can't use his name on any non-Columbus venture.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/02/04/tidbits1.html

Oodles Noodle restaurants closed, new owners said ready to step in

Friday, February 8, 2008

Business First of Columbus

By Dan Eaton, Business First

 

Oodles Noodle & Dumpling Bar opened in August 2006, with owner Dae Oh promising quick-serve Asian dishes and a plan to expand rapidly.  Those plans seem to have changed.  Oodles' two restaurants, at 765 Neil Ave. in Columbus and 443 E. Main St. in Bexley, closed in January, with reopenings scheduled for this month, according to signs at the shops.

 

More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/02/11/newscolumn1.html

Little sandwiches make it big

Wide variety of local restaurants find sliders are a very popular addition to their menus

Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 3:39 AM

By Monique Curet, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

From sports-themed grills to stylish steak joints, restaurants are increasingly thinking small.  Menu items featuring tiny sandwiches -- the same size as the burgers made famous by Columbus-based White Castle -- are popping up everywhere.

 

Columbus Fish Market, Damon's Grill, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Ruby Tuesday and Rusty Bucket Corner Taverns are among the many restaurants that have added smaller sandwiches...

 

 

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/02/10/slyder_mania.ART_ART_02-10-08_D1_EC99TEB.html?sid=101

 

 

 

Opening cupcake bar gives Dublin business new retail option

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/02/11/smallb1.html

 

It all began with the Easy-Bake oven Linda Kick received at the age of 8. From that day onward, Linda Kick referred to herself as a closet baker, and it has helped propel her into a Dublin business that has found itself growing as its concept for delivering sweet treats gains wider acceptance.

 

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