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2007 was a great year for new restaurants in Columbus, but there were also several eateries that closed up their doors for good. Here are the Top 10 restaurants that closed in 2007. They will all be missed.
1. The Original Wendy’s – 2007 was a bad year for Wendy’s in general. Sagging sales, a potential corporate sellout, and mediocre advertising campaigns left many fast fooders headed toward other options. The biggest blow came on March 2nd when the original restaurant downtown closed after 38 years. Dave Thomas will still be spinning in his grave well into the new year.
2. Estrada – After owner Ray Estrada died in March, the future of his restaurant was up in the air. It lasted through the summer but closed up in October.
3. Talita’s Mexican-Italian Restaurant – After a 39 year run, Talita’s closed up shop in September. They were quickly replaced with another mexican restaurant called Fiesta Time.
4. Pesto Creative Italian Bistro – In early December the lights quietly went off at Pesto as young entrepreneur Lee Shadle put his Italian concept to rest.
5. TeeJay’s – One of the few 24 hour greasy spoons still located near downtown closed up as redevelopment near Dublin Road and Grandview Ave gets ready to begin.
6. Brownstone on Main – After a public debacle involving a closed alley and a half-completed patio as well as funding and management problems, the Brownstone on Main announced a “temporary” closing for restructuring which soon turned permanent.
7. Steak & Shake – One of the few 24/7 sit-down dining options on campus closed up this past summer leaving students with one less place to score a greasy late night “fourth meal”.
8. 8 – This Short North eatery closed up after one year due to an unrenewable lease. 2008 may see 8 relocate nearby.
9. Red Star Tavern – After a very short run, this Arena District restaurant closed up in February and was quickly replaced by “TBD Tavern” (yes, TBD stood for To Be Determined). TBD didn’t last long and closed in May, but now a Boston’s Pizza is scheduled to be opening there soon.
10. Fuddruckers – In April, Fuddruckers pulled the plug on all four of their Columbus locations at once. Fortunately there are still hundreds of places to find good hamburgers in central Ohio.
Which of these closed restaurants will you miss the most? What new types of restaurants would you like to see open in 2008?
Estrada- now that was a real loss… that place was good times in college.
Except for Estrada, which holds some personal significance for Amy and I, and my fondness for Lee Shadle as a person, I’m not going to shed a tear over any of these closures.
Yep, right with ya there, even including Estrada and fond memories.
Estrada, agreed.
Oh those Cinco De Mayo memories…
While I didn’t eat at the original Wendy’s too often I liked that it was packed full of memorabilia and history. It was a museum for a company with roots in our downtown landscape. I’ll miss that more than I will getting frosties there.
To replace Wendy’s http://organictogo.com/
This place is aweseome: http://www.rockbottom.com/RockBottomWeb/RBR/Home.aspx
I would love to see a creperie too!
Maybe a mom&pop type of 24 hour diner downtown for breakfast or post night out snacks or something like this http://cafemagnolia.com/
And something like this: http://www.mizunadenver.com/menus.html
I’d love to see Carlos snatch up the old Estrada’s (if it’s even still available or hasn’t been changed yet) and open a large version of El Arepazo, complete with patio and liquor license!!!
i don’t think i want any new restaurants in Columbus.
I think there may be too many.
I am not being sarcastic. Is there anyone inclined this way also?
I would like to see a few niches filled that we are lacking.
Also, my new neighborhood is lacking in the restaurant category in general, so I’d love to see just about anything open up over there that I can walk to.
Hmmmm perhaps. The only two things I want are an authentic NY Pizza by the slice place (outside of campus) and maybe another option or two for breakfast.
Other than that, I agree for the most part. There is already a great selection of restaurants in the area.
WOW!
who would put Fuddruckers under Talita’s by 8 spotsor hell put talita’s number 2. This must have been influenced by ndecent.
That patio space at Etrada’s is nice and huge. I hope something casual with a bunch of beer opens there by spring. I tend to gravitate toward places with patios, even in the winter.
There still are TeeJayes and Steak & Shakes in town (and Wendy’s as well, obviously).
I’m pretty bummed about the original Wendy’s closing, but realistically I hadn’t been IN the place in maybe 10 years, so I guess I can’t be all that upset about it, since I wasn’t even supporting it myself.
I’m very bummed about Fuddruckers’ closing, because they were definitely one of my favorite burger options in town, all the locally owned places included. It’s mostly the bun – maybe if other places could buy & use those buns (or just get whatever recipe and bake them themselves)….
I could care less about the rest…. including Estrada. I ate there several times and was always fairly underwhelmed. I did get crapped on by a bird on their patio once, so hey that’s at least something noteworthy! :lol:
As for new places, we’ve obviously got ridiculous amounts of options already, but I don’t really see a problem with new places opening – keeping the scene fresh, keeping new options out there, (hopefully) making other places more competitive, and, as Walker points out, a major reason is convenience. Take Sonic for example – sure there’s one way out in Whitehall, but I’m VERY happy that one is opening less than a mile away from my house.
Yep. I found 10 noteworthy places that closed and 20 noteworthy places that opened.
8)
Yep. I found 10 noteworthy places that closed and 20 noteworthy places that opened.
8)
Thats a decent ratio on the positive side.
RIP Tee Jays
who would put Fuddruckers under Talita’s by 8 spotsor hell put talita’s number 2. This must have been influenced by ndecent.
RIP Talitas. SO good.
Just wanted to mention that the Burgundy Room in Dublin Closed after NYE. RIP BR Dublin.
I liked the Burgundy Room for the venue, the food and the bar, but Dublin never warmed up to it.
Rumor I hear is that a Mexican chain is moving in. Ugh.
Nooooo, not a chain, not in Dublin, say it ain’t so! :wink: