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Photo by ColumbusFoodie.com
The Columbus Dining scene is constantly changing, which means that new restaurants are always opening, and sadly, some restaurants end up closing. The national economic recession took quite a toll on many businesses throughout 2008 and 2009, and some were unable to recover from the financial loss. Below are eight local restaurants that we will miss the most after their 2009 departures.
8. Happy Greek – The second Happy Greek location opened at the South Campus Gateway in May of 2006, and has been through a turbulent three years. Early reviews were mostly positive, but less than a year after opening, the owners were accused of running a mortgage fraud scam out of their restaurant. The investigation continued through 2007 and one of the owners was arrested and charged in early 2008. The business came to a close in September 2009, when the doors were shut for good. The original Short North location remains open for business.
7. Wolfgang Puck Express – This fast casual chain entered the Columbus market in late 2004 at the newly renovated Shoppes at Lane Avenue. Reviews over the past five years were mixed, but generally positive. In October 2009, the general manager at the restaurant announced that they were closing with plans to relocate to a larger space. No location has been announced, and no reopening date has been set.
6. Rosendales – In late 2006, award-winning Chef Richard Rosendale announced that he would be opening his first restaurant in the Short North to quite a bit of local fanfare. Rosendales opened in March 2007 immediately hit the Dispatch Top 10 list in its first year and received plenty of additional praise. Rosendale went on to compete in the 2008 Bocuse d’Or, helping to place Columbus on the national culinary map. 2009 saw a series of menu changes and rebranding efforts to help combat the national recession’s impact on fine dining establishments, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to keep the business afloat. Chef Rosendale left town and his restaurant closed shortly afterward in October 2009.
5. Maca Cafe – The Maca Cafe was opened in Powell in 2007 by Norman and Susan Carmichael. Reviews were mostly positive, even enticing folks to drive quite a distance to visit. The owners recently announced that due to economic hardships, their closing day will be on December 19th at 9pm, so fans of Maca still have two more weeks to stop in for a last meal.
4. Thom’s on Grandview – Thom Coffman opened Thom’s on Grandview in early 2006 and quickly jumped onto the Dispatch Top 20 List. In 2007, Coffman revealed plans to renovate his other restaurant The Clarmont into an 8-story mixed-use development. The sagging housing market and recession has delayed those plans, but Coffman has continued to pursue them while putting Thom’s up for sale in July 2008 and turning the restaurant into a private event-only space in May 2009.
3. Trattoria LaTavola – Rick and Krista Lopez opened LaTavola in Powell in 1999, and later moved it to Riverside Drive in Dublin. Despite rave reviews, the couple closed the doors in February 2009. Rick and Krista are already hard at work on opening their next concept Knead Downtown near the North Market.
2. Details – Only a year after opening Rosendales in the Short North, Chef Richard Rosendale was ready to expand, and in July 2008, Details Minibar and Lounge was launched in space next door. The concept quickly became a Columbus Underground favorite for their more casual atmosphere and upscale take on bar food and classic cocktails. Unfortunately, when Rosendales closed in October, Details went along with it.
1. Handke’s – Chef Hartmut Handke may be one of the most nationally acclaimed chefs in the city of Columbus, and his restaurant was recognized several times as the top restaurant in all of Ohio by Zagat. In July 2008, Chef Handke sold the restaurant after being semi-retired from the business already. The national recession had an impact on all fine dining establishments, and the new owners attempted to combat this by launching Encore, an upscale small-plate bar business similar to Details, in March 2009. It wasn’t enough to keep the business running though, and Handke’s closed their doors in June 2009.
Nancy’s Home Cooking?
Really miss Handke’s. A blow to Columbus dining.
Very concerned that many will follow its fate after the holiday season (Deepwood, et. al.)
Nancy’s is supposed to be coming back soon. Sadly, I never went to Handke’s but I really liked Encore during it’s brief operation.
Morton’s Steakhouse
Hawa Russia
@ Rick Carraway:
I agree Rick, especially in the downtown/arena area. I don’t see Deepwood or Barrio making it thru 2010
I certainly would HOPE that DeepWood will not close next year….personal reasons, and no I do not own or work there…..
FWIW, last night DeepWood was *packed*.
Yeah, I left Nancy’s off the list, as they’re supposed to be re-opening.
Hawa Russia and Morton’s both slipped my mind. They’ll be missed too.
I’m not going to play the early speculation game on what restaurants will close in 2010. When you start to put out the perception that restaurants are going under, it can hurt their image. I’d rather support them if I like them and don’t want to see them fail.
Onward and upward in 2010! :D
drew Says: FWIW, last night DeepWood was *packed*.
FWIW, Barrio was *packed* on Friday night when I was there. ;)
The Euro Café .
“Rosendale went on to compete in the 2008 Bocuse d’Or, helping to place Columbus on the national culinary map.”
First, I think we are forgetting that Chef Handke also competed in the 2003 Bocuse d’Or in Lyon AND won the top prize for the best meat dish.
Second, the 2008 competition was only the Bocuse d’Or USA NOT the true Bocuse d’Or in Lyon France. The chef that represented the United States in Lyon was Timothy Hollingsworth from the French Laundry.
Oops. My mistake. Thanks for the clarification. ;)
I can’t wait till this recession ends and no businesses ever close for any reason any more.
No worries :)
Just wanted to make sure Chef Handke got his due. Afterall, it was a VERY impressive dish. (Was lucky enough to taste it at a exihibtion trial at the NRA show in Chicago)
Ate dinner at Maca just last night. Thought the food was excellent. Different take on tapas than Barrio. Not necessarily better or worse, just different.
I think Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe closed around the same time as Wolfgang Puck Express.
You’re right about Camilles Sidewalk Cafe… and Baja Fresh closed around the same time too. Lots of summer closures on Lane Ave.
Rolls Cafe also closed, but it supposedly relocating.
And Asian 168 closed this year (the site of the new Knead restuarant).
Edit: Also, Cafe Del Mondo in Marble Cliff.
I almost forgot about Baja closing. They are still around in other parts of the country.
I used to hit the Lane Ave lunch trifecta of Baja, Camilles, and Wolfgang with my OSU-employed friends quite often, mainly because of the convenient parking.
Baja Sol?
AKA worst Mexican Evar
Saw the head chef of Baja Sol on a gingerbread house competition.
I felt sorry for him when his gingerbread turned out to be over cooked, then again when he didn’t know the correct receipe for icing, then realized he was a tool when he said on national TV that maybe it was the fault of the new guy.
I was at Deepwood Saturday night and the Tavern side and Dining side was packed. Additionally, it is my understanding that they are doing quite well and are very happy with sales.