Amid legal dispute, Italian Village brewery suddenly closes

View a previous report on Hoof Hearted's legal dispute in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A bar and kitchen the subject of dueling lawsuits has closed its Italian Village location, months after its parent franchise opened a location nearby.

Hoof Hearted Brewery and Kitchen has closed its North Fourth Street location. A sign posted outside said it was permanently closed, and signage bearing the Hoof Hearted name had been taken down. Only the words "brewery and kitchen" remained as of earlier this week.

But Hoof Hearted isn't leaving town. The sign on the door pointed to a location at 26 E. 5th Ave., in Weinland Park, that opened earlier this year. Hoof Hearted, founded in 2011, is based in Morrow County, about 30 miles north of Columbus.

The closure comes amid a legal dispute between Hoof Hearted and its partner, A&R Creative Group. In a conflict dating to 2023, Hoof Hearted and 2023 E LLC -- a company affiliated with A&R -- filed competing lawsuits against each other, with both sides claiming the other had violated a partnership agreement.

A&R's claims against Hoof Hearted include that it had invested hundreds of thousands into the brewery and kitchen without being paid back. It also claims Hoof Hearted had expanded its operations without giving A&R a chance to invest, citing both as agreement violations.

On the other side, Hoof Hearted complains 2023 E LLC A&R's lawsuit was “riddled with false allegations and misinterpretations." It claims A&R had filed its lawsuit in lieu of mediating in good faith. The brewery's complaint against A&R includes that it had not properly reimbursed it for alcohol production costs and had poorly managed the Italian Village location.

Both parties deny the other's allegations. The sides are due back in court in October.

NBC4 reached out to Hoof Hearted to ask if the closure was related to the legal dispute but had not heard back as of Wednesday night.