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    The List: 16 Restaurant & Bar Closures from Recent Months

    An already notoriously difficult industry, bars and restaurants have been especially hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

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    While some restaurants share insight into their reasons for closing, others choose to quietly exit the scene. We are catching up on a number of bars and restaurants that have closed their doors over the last several months, from local gems to nationwide chains. These, unfortunately, are just some of the spots that have been forced to close this year. Click here to read more about other restaurants and businesses that have closed their doors in 2020.

    Matt the Miller’s Tavern, 1400 Grandview Ave., made a quiet departure from the dining scene during the pandemic.

    “We operated that space for 10 years and our lease was up for renewal,” says Rob Hoersdig, director of operations for CLB Restaurants. “We loved operating in Grandview and hope to have a location in that area or Upper Arlington in the near future.”

    Hoersdig said the lack of patio space in the age of COVID and progressively more difficult parking situation influenced the decision not to renew the lease.

    Native Cold Pressed has downsized from three locations to one. While still listed on the company’s website as temporarily closed, ‘For Lease’ signs hang in the windows of both the Bexley location, 2408 E Main St., and German Village location, 214 Thurman Ave. A sign on the door in German Village indicates its last day of operation was November 1 and directs guest to the original Short North shop, 771-A N. High St.

    Native Cold Pressed Bexley – Photo by Susan Post

    Canada-based fast-casual chain Freshii also appears to have gone from three Central Ohio locations to one. A sign at Freshii in Bexley, 2510 E. Main St., says the location is available for sub-lease. Freshii in Dublin, 6745 Avery-Muirfield Dr., appears to be closed. A lease listing last updated in early November was found online and the phone number for the restaurant has been disconnected. Freshii, 160 W. Main St. in New Albany remains open.

    Freshii Bexley – Photo by Susan Post

    Also closing multiple locations is fast-casual pizza chain Pizza Cucinova. While no official announcement of its closure can be found online, the company’s website is no longer active. Signage has been removed from the Grandview location, 1187 Olentangy River Rd., and ‘For Lease’ signs hang in the windows. The Dublin location, 7721 Sawmill Rd., has already found a new tenant with banners announcing another locally-based fast-casual chain’s arrival – Fusian will soon be opening it its place. Pizza Cucinova operated two additional locations, 4044 Morse Crossing at Easton, and 79 S. State St. in Westerville.

    Pizza Cucinova Grandview – Photo by Susan Post

    Miller’s Ale House has altogether vacated the state, closing both of its Central Ohio locations – 1201 Olentangy River Rd. in Grandview and 3884 Morse Rd. at Easton. Both locations are reported closed on Yelp and absent from the company’s website. The Florida-based sports bar chain opened its first Central Ohio location in Grandview in late 2013, followed by Easton in 2019.

    Miller’s Ale House Grandview – Photo by Susan Post

    Downtown lost its pizza cone turned sushi restaurant as Viiza vacated its space at 4 E. Broad St. No additional details were found online, but its storefront sits empty. Just a few doors down at 12 E. Broad St., Jack + Benny’s also closed its doors. The restaurant’s Facebook page is no longer active and the location is reported closed on Yelp.

    Jack & Benny’s Downtown – Photo by Susan Post

    In July, Red Hook Grill, the Caribbean-inspired restaurant with a seafood-heavy menu, announced it would pass the torch on its restaurant space at 1223 Goodale Blvd. in Grandview. Nile Vegan has already opened its second location at the address.

    GROWL has departed from Clintonville. The former growler shop at 2995 N. High St. is empty and the location is listed as permanently closed on Google.

    Other restaurants said goodbye after long histories in Central Ohio. After 48 years, La Scala closed its doors at 4199 W. Dublin Granville Rd. in Dublin. As both a restaurant and event venue, La Scala was particularly hard-hit by pandemic guidelines. Additionally, in July Chef and Owner William Lalli passed away from COVID-19. A GoFundMe was set up in mid-September to help the business stay afloat, but by mid-October, La Scala announced it would close permanently at the end of the month.

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    Susan Post
    Susan Post
    Susan is the editor of The Metropreneur and associate editor of Columbus Underground, and also covers small business and entrepreneurial news and the food scene in Central Ohio.Susan holds a degree in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing from The Ohio State University. She sits on the board of the Central Ohio Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and loves coffee, whiskey, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
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