Happy Friday! Here’s the latest Columbus restaurant news:
- The news broke this week that Bubbly Hall in New Albany will close permanently on March 31. The food hall opened in April of 2023, and since that time has experienced high vendor turnover and faced multiple lawsuits over unpaid rent and other issues.
- The owners of Rooh in the Short North announced that they’ll be closing temporarily from April 5-9 for a revamp of the space and the dinner menu, plus the addition of a limited run pop-up called Mornings by Rooh, featuring breakfast items Friday-Sunday mornings. Rooh will reopen on Friday, April 10. (I have to say that I’m very excited about this – I visited the owners’ Chicago spot Swadesi Cafe last year and the food is a real treat.)
- After operating as a trailer for a while, Joy Local Coffee Co. holds the grand opening of their new storefront on Saturday, March 28, inside Collective Home Supply at 166 Granville St. in Gahanna.
- Fired Up Pizza opens its storefront this weekend at 5601 N. High St. in Worthington. The pizza shop has been a regular at local farmers markets and as a mobile pizza business for years now. It takes over the original Natalie’s space. (The Nine opened a couple weeks ago in the former Light of Seven Matchsticks space underground.)
- After being struck by lightning and experiencing a small fire last week, the East Market has fully reopened!
- A new cocktail bar called Let Me Roll It is coming sometime this spring to 132 E. Fifth Ave. in Italian Village/Weinland Park.
- An Ohio-based restaurant called The Fruit Stand announced they’ll be opening a location soon in the Short North.
- Fishburger opens a second location today – Friday, March 27 – at 1917 Hamilton Ave. This joins a location at the Come & Go Center in Linden.
- Local Cantina opens its newest location at 4 E. Columbus St. in Pickerington on Friday, March 27.
- Starting this Saturday, March 28, Budd Dairy Food Hall is converting its second story bar, Simon’s Bar, into a tiki bar pop-up called It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Tiki. It’ll operate Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight.
- And just a reminder that the last day in business for China Bell in Grove City is next week Tuesday, March 31. They’re closing after 38 years in business; the owner said that they’ve sold the building, while the site will be redeveloped.
This week I’m also writing:
You can also me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, read my guide to Columbus, or search for travel inspiration.