As the coronavirus pandemic marches on, the bar and restaurant industry has continued to face unprecedented challenges. There were a number of eateries that did close their existing locations in favor of new spots, but the dining scene also lost some favorites that had been serving guests for decades.
Here’s a rundown of what we lost in 2021.
Gone, But Not Forever
There were a handful of spots that closed locations this year, but with plans to make a comeback! First up, long-standing Franklinton pizza joint Josie’s closed early in the year only to make a comeback in the fall just up Broad Street. Yellow Brick Pizza said goodbye to its original location in Olde Towne East in favor of a stall inside the soon-to-open East Market in the Trolley District. (In the meantime, there’s always the Franklinton location and Pie of the Tiger.)
Tee Jaye’s Country Place announced its Clintonville closure. Chick-fil-A is likely swooping in on that site (with plans to keep the sign) and Tee Jaye’s will stay in the neighborhood by taking over what was once Bareburger.
Clintonville will be the new home of Destination Donuts after it left the North Market this fall. Clintonville also gained a location of The Pit BBQ Grille after it closed its original brick-and-mortar on Cleveland Avenue. (The BBQ joint also joined North Market Bridge Park.)
Downtown’s nearly 30-year-old pizza spot Cafe Napolitana technically closed, but fans can fear not as the eatery is moving around the corner to become Aracri on Gay with plans to reopen soon. Big Bang also traded Downtown, closing in the Arena District, for campus, opening in the University District.
Finally, Stauf’s said goodbye to Budd Dairy Food Hall after roughly four months, but the coffee roaster implied it was looking for its own digs in Italian Village.
This for That
Bexley traded one Indian restaurant for another, as Aab India closed and became Khaab Indian Kitchen & Bar. After being voted CU’s Best New Restaurant of 2020, Dough Mama closed its recently-opened second location in the Brewery District, making room for Chocolate Cafe Express. After spending some time as a home for pop-up concepts, Hank’s Texas BBQ took over what was once Old Skool (check that last paragraph). Just a few storefronts over, Basil had a short run before it transformed into new concept Buddha Bowl under the same ownership. In the Graceland Shopping Center, hot dogs remained, but the restaurant changed: Links-N-Lemonade closed and Dad’s Coneys and Wraps appeared.
Hai Poke vacated its South High Street space to be replaced by Oshio Station, an offshoot of Grandview-area eatery Oshio. Also Downtown, Fourth Street’s Andes Bar & Grill decided to wind things down and will become alcohol-free bar The Dry Mill in early 2022. On Gay Street, Uptown 51 came and went, to be replaced by aforementioned Aracri on Gay. In the Arena District, Bar Louie left, allowing Howl at the Moon to make its Columbus comeback.
Short North saw a trio of swaps. The storied Short North Food Hall closed, but One Hospitality maintained the space, transforming it into Standard Live. Brown Bag Deli broke up with BrewDog in Short North, with the brewery then coupling up with Moody Trudy’s. While Black Point apparently shut things down before the pandemic, its replacement comes in the form of soon-to-open Parlay.
Long-Running Departures
In 2021, the Columbus dining scene had to say goodbye to some long-standing eateries that had been serving guests for decades.
After nearly two decades, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ temporary closure of M at Miranova at the onset of the pandemic became a permanent one. Clintonville’s Wildflower Cafe also made the decision to close after just over two decades, citing a challenging and exhausting last few years of operation.
In the University District, Japanese Oriental announced it would close by the end of the year after a 40-plus year run. A post announcing the closure said the property would be transitioned to more apartments and common areas for The View on Pavey Square development.
Landlord disputes also led to one of perhaps the most surprising closures of the year. German Village’s G. Michael’s exited the dining scene after 23 years, citing an inability to come to a lease agreement with the building’s owners that would assure their continued success.
More Goodbyes
Running Down the other bars and restaurants we said goodbye to in 2021…
Downtown’s Main Bar not only closed, but the building was demolished. Meanwhile, Fifth by Northwest’s Sweet Carrot suspended dine-in at its last remaining restaurant to become a catering-only operation. English pub Geordie’s also closed its doors in Merion Village and put its assets up for sale. Momo Ghar left its original home inside Saraga Market and traded up to a standalone brick-and-mortar.
Up on Karl Road, The Mix Charcoal Chicken called things early in the year. A couple of spots to get beer disappeared. The Daily Growler left Polaris Fashion Place and B-Corp brewery Commonhouse Ales stopped brewing.
Over in Short North, The Cap’s Eleven has quietly disappeared. (Emails about the bar’s status early in the year went unanswered and Google and Yelp both report the location is closed.) North in the neighborhood, chocolate shop Kilwins closed and went up for sale.
The South Side lost two of its holdings. Opening weeks before the pandemic upended things, vegan joint Village Taco held on for just over a year and a half before bowing out. The Crest on Parsons fell into the category of quietly disappearing, with a Facebook post confirming there are currently no plans to reopen. (The Crest in Clintonville is up and running.)
Finally, Worthington’s Sassafras Bakery ended its eight-year brick-and-mortar run.
