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10JAN2004 Cash registers in Columbus area restaurants generally rang up big numbers in 2004, at least in the final six months as the economy cha-chinged back to life. However, the cha-clunks set a one year record with almost 90 (give or take a couple of unreported) lock downs. Big Cha-Clunk Names: • Olivia’s of New Albany, closed abruptly Jan. 11 when owners Cindy and David Eyestone called their chef, Fred DeBiasi, to tell him not to report to work the following morning. The building and property, 29 S. High St., has gone through bankruptcy. • Wm. Graystone Winery, 544 S. Front St., a restaurant since 1990, gave up in January with being open to the public. The operation, today owned by Brian Johnson, continues as a banquet house. • Bob the Fish Guy Market & Bistro, 1262 E. Powell Rd., closed Jan. 15 when owner Bob Reamy sold property; since reopened as a bar. • Knotty Pine, 1765 W. 3rd Ave., closed Feb. 1 after 60 years; has since reopened following extensive renovation by new owners, Richard Dick and Jim Savage. (Dick has since sold his shares to Savage.) • Black Horse Inn, 1420 Presidential Dr., closed after 40 years, later reopened for a few weeks as DaSilva’s; later destroyed by fire and remains closed. (Has since reopened with new ownership.) • Rapallo’s, originally in The Continent for almost 30 years, moved in 2003 to Comfort Inn, 1213 E. Dublin-Granville Inn, closed mid-February. • Nick’s Roast Beef & Seafood, two locations closed mid-February, 150 Hutchinson Ave., and 2127 Polaris Parkway. • Dan’s Drive-Inn, 1881 S. High St., famous for 24-hour service; closed in March; new owners reportedly doing a remodel. (Has since reopened after extensive renovations with new ownership.) • Fisherman’s Wharf II, 2816 Fishinger Rd., closed in early 2004 following a partnership dispute. • On The Border, 225 Campus View Dr., Crosswoods, closed without notice by Brinker Corp., in April.  • White House Café, 8715 Sancus Blvd., closed after six months by Moustafa Abdelaal around April 1, his fifth restaurant closing in five years. • Mauger’s Seafood Restaurant, closed without notice by owner Mark M. Warner April 11 after 100 years at 512 E. Main St., Lancaster; owner blamed influx of chain seafood restaurants. Public records indicate liquor permits not renewed pending an unresolved state tax matter. • Italian Eatery, closed in May after nine years at 93 N. High St., Gahanna. • The Alcove, a destination comfort food restaurant for 93 years in downtown Mount Vernon, closed in April by then new owner David Body; has since reopened by previous owner Tom Metcalf. Duncan Hines smiled. • Bullfrog’s Grille & Sports Bar, 120 Phillipi Rd., closed sans public notice in April in a building that housed the city’s last Ground Round. • SuLan Eurasian Bistro, 2890 E. Main St., closed May 5 by owner Paul Liu after subleasing to Larry Berman who reopened premises July 4 as Singles only to close on Jan. 9, 2005. • Braddock’s Diner, originally Frank’s Diner in the North Market, closed June 1, reportedly for lack of traffic in the building’s second level. • Bumpers, for almost three decades a popular bar with food at 1138 Bethel Rd., changed the name and concept to Eleven 38 for three months. After three months the owner closed for good and sold the property. • Chi-Chi’s closed two remaining operations in central Ohio, victim of an E coli outbreak in Beaver, Pa., that sickened 600-plus patrons and killed six. • Montana Mining Co., 1849 Winderly Ln, Pickerington, closed by Sergio Beyazian, his third lockdown in two years. The address now reopened as a Mexican restaurant. • Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar & Grill, the city’s original which opened in 1980, closed. Three remain open in the city. • Cinema Grill, after a quick five weeks of reportedly serving poor food to sparse movie audiences in a fading Continent cineplex, went dark. • Maharajas Fine Indian Restaurant & Bar, 389 StoneRidge Plaza, lasted 13 months in a storeroom originally known as Latin Rooster. • Dalt’s, Worthington Mall, owned by Louise Francis, closed in late fall after the mall refused to extend a lease; after renovations reopened by new owners as Adena’s American Bistro and Bar. As Dalt’s in 1982 when opened, it was part of the T.G. I. Friday’s chain. • Stauf’s Coffee Roaster, 158 Hutchison Ave., Crosswoods, closed Aug. 1, reportedly for lack of performance; space now subleased to Moustafa Abdelaal interests as a deli. • Rax Restaurants, long ago a Columbus-based chain but more recently independently owned, closed at 3155 W. Broad St. and 4470 Refugee Rd. Last under Rax name, owned by Stan Sanford, remains at 1960 E. Dublin-Granville Rd. • Baja Fresh, 7176 N. High St., closed as part of corporate decision by Wendy’s International; four remain open in city. • U-be-U, billed as a martini bar with food to match at 525 N. Park St., opened Aug. 14, 2002 with a city loan of $187,500, closed Jan. 14 after being open spasmodically during 2003; property since reopened under new owners as Network, a restaurant. (Network opened and closed within six months.) Quick In-and-Outers: • Red Dragon, a Chinese buffet at Crosswoods in building originally a short-lived Red Robin, closed June 23 after five months. • Godfather Moretti’s Famiglia, closed June 1, one day short of a full year at 10121 Riverside Dr., also the address of five other lockdowns in recent years. • Venezia Italian Restaurant, 1264 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., originally a Tee Jaye’s Country Place, opened in May, closed Aug. 29 reportedly when the newly hired chef suddenly quit. A new reopening planned, by the same subleasee, this time to be a Mexican operation. • Super Dynasty Buffet, closed after five months, five days at the restaurant graveyard address, 1380 Bethel Rd. Site was Red Lobster in 1970s, later closed under seven names. • Genghis Grill – The Mongolian Feast, closing date at 4770 Morse Rd., in November, a disconnect after one year. Same owners in 2003 moved the original Genghis Grill from 29 Neverland Dr., Lewis Center. Franchisee Doris Stafford did not return calls for information. Texas-based Genghis took over franchise with plans to reopen, possibly as a company store. • Best Beef House, 6006 E. Livingston Ave., apparently wasn’t the best, a disconnect after a few weeks. Mystery Departures: • Grand Circuit, 1185 US Rt. 23 N, Delaware, a disconnect in early 2004. • Jasmine Restaurant, 1080 Dublin Rd., closed early in 2004 after some 20 years. • Royal Bakery, a bakery-café at 6082 Huntley Rd., became known as a disconnect May 4 when a caller to the Dispatch complained that she had made a deposit for a wedding cake and could not locate the departed owners. • Engine House No. 5, German Village, closed years ago, but still gets a listing in the SBC Yellow Pages. • Atlanta Bread Co., 8711 Sancus Blvd., closed Sept. 9 after two unprofitable years; chain originally announced plans to open six in Columbus. Initial land and building reportedly cost $700,000. • Super Dynasty Buffet, open five months, five days in location built for long departed 55 Grille and four other restaurants over time. Other Disconnects: Lockdowns leaving no information as to closings: Olive Tree Restaurant, 900 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.; Taipei Gourmet, 2882 E. Main St., after seven years; Smoke Shack BBQ, 1898 Brice Rd.; Schlotzsky’s Deli, 1780 Hilliard-Rome Rd.; Cinnabon, 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., on June 30; A. J.’s Hotdog Shoppe, on former site of Nacho Mama’s at 5277 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, closed in late February in tandem with sub tenant, Katie’s Korner Homemade Ice Cream; Bombay Grill, 6665 Dublin Village Center in march; by Doral Chenoweth 614-538-1822 |
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