Central Ohio restaurants that closed in 2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Noteworthy central Ohio restaurants and bars announced they would be closing in 2024, including Oscar's in historic Dublin, a decades-old dive bar near Ohio State, Columbus' first Chick-fil-A location and more.

Here are the prominent eateries that shuttered in 2024.

1487 Brewery

• The brewery at 620 Industrial Parkway in Plain City permanently closed in February after its former chief operating officer pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the company. Owner Ben King, who opened the location in 2020 after kickstarting the business in 2015, said "due to unforeseen circumstances, our timing was awful."

Adelaide's Gin Joint

• The joint at 2333 N. High St. went up for sale in August after the business suddenly closed less than a year after it opened. The owners of Adelaide's were sued by their former manager in June, who alleged they violated labor laws.

Anthony's Pizzeria

• Known as a fixture in Bexley for New York-style pizza, Anthony's shuttered its doors in April. The pizza and sub shop, in the 600 block of Pleasant Ridge Avenue across from Capital University, announced its closure with a note taped to its door.

Bier Stube

• Bier Stube shut down in September after operating at the corner of Ninth and High streets since 1966. In August, the storied location announced it would be closing ahead of construction plans for a high-rise apartment building.

Cantina Blue Santa

• The Mexican restaurant at 8 N. State St. in Westerville's 97-year-old former State Theatre shuttered in August. The Mexican restaurant had opened in September 2023, replacing a Barrel & Boar location that had called the theater home for six years.

Chick-fil-A

• The chain's Polaris location at 8787 Sancus Boulevard permanently closed in November after more than 20 years in business. The eatery opened in 2003 near Polaris Fashion Place and marked the company's first standalone eatery in central Ohio.

Condado Tacos

• The chain's carryout eatery at 4052 Presidential Parkway in Powell shuttered in September to be transformed into a test kitchen, marketing studio and private event space for the brand. Condado launched the location in 2021 and had served as the chain's sole carryout-only eatery.

El Camino Inn

• The Mexican restaurant at 238 S. Fourth St. closed in November. The announcement came shortly before owners Tina and Randy Corbin said their other eatery in the same building, Little Palace, would also be closing.

El Segundo Mexican Kitchen

• At 698 N. High St. in the Short North, El Segundo closed in March. The restaurant offered dishes inspired by Mexican street food.

Esco Restaurant and Tapas

• The restaurant and nightclub co-founded by rapper 2 Chainz announced on social media in December that it would shutter by the end of the year and has transitioned to takeout only.

Fat Girl Bakery

• The bakery at 6457 N. Hamilton Road, between New Albany and Westerville, closed in March. The closure comes after the bakeshop relocated its Lewis Center storefront in May of 2023.

Fusian

• The fast-casual sushi restaurant's Westerville eatery at 79 S. State St. and the Dublin location at 7721 Sawmill Rd. permanently closed in November. Each eatery had opened about four years ago, both taking over spaces previously home to Pizza Cucinova locations that closed during the pandemic.

Gigi's Cupcakes

• The bakery chain's location at 2019 Polaris Parkway closed in October. The location originally opened in 2012, down the street from Polaris Fashion Place and near The Lash Lounge, Levi’s 4 Floors, and Polaris Dental Care.

Grand Tavern

• The Grandview Heights bar at 1111 W. First Ave. shut down after just a few months of operating, citing bad business dealings with the landlord and renovation costs.

Hadley's Bar and Kitchen

• The restaurant on the corner of South Fourth and East Cherry streets Downtown shut down in July after eight years. The closure was confirmed by Crafted for You, the group behind the restaurant, with the company citing the end of its lease.

Little Palace

• The restaurant and bar at 238 S. Fourth St. closed in November. The announcement came shortly after owners Tina and Randy Corbin closed their other eatery in the same building, El Camino Inn, the same month.

Local Cantina

• The Columbus-based Tex-Mex chain shut the doors to its Short North location at 600 N. High St. in June, and then closed its Gahanna restaurant at 101 Mill St. in November.

Mackenzie River

• The grill and pub at 1515 Polaris Parkway closed early in 2024 after eight years of business. The restaurant launched in 2016 after Montana-based Glacier Restaurant Group purchased all Max and Erma's locations and transformed several into Mackenzie River eateries.

Matt the Miller's

• The tavern's Polaris Fashion Place location at 1436 Gemini Place welcomed patrons for the last time on Valentine's Day after owner CLB Restaurants opted not to renew the tavern’s lease. Now, the concept is down to one central Ohio location at 6725 Avery-Muirfield Dr. in Dublin.

Melt Bar and Grilled

• The restaurant chain shuttered its Easton Town Center storefront at 4206 Worth Ave. in July with paper signs taped to the front doors. The closure came as company owner Matt Fish was navigating bankruptcy proceedings.

Milestone 229

• Located at 229 S. Civic Center Drive, Milestone announced on social media it would shutter for good on New Year's Eve. The restaurant's post said it has "enjoyed sharing our time with you for the past 14 years and helping you celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations and so much more."

Mr. T's Pizza

• Located at 207 W. Johnstown Road, the pizzeria closed in February. The shop's owner, Jeffrey Armstrong, said the closure isn't goodbye forever, but "just goodbye for now," as Mr. T's may reopen in the future.

Oscar's

• The restaurant and bar at 84 N. High St. in Dublin's historic neighborhood permanently closed in January, according to the eatery's auction listing which described the closure as "sudden." The auction was held the following the week to sell "everything by piece til done."

Paul's Fifth Avenue

• Paul Panzera shut down his diner at 1565 W. 5th Ave. in July. His oldest son Anthony told NBC4 his father made the decision for a "collective of reasons," including the changing restaurant industry after the pandemic as well as the demand of running one at 76 years old.

Pizza Hut

• The pizzeria chain's eateries at 5837 Sawmill Road in Dublin, at 4514 Kenny Road near Upper Arlington, at 3643 S. High St. near Obetz and at 1076 Parsons Ave. near Merion Village closed this past summer. All four were removed from Pizza Hut’s site, and their voicemails repeated similar pre-recorded messages when called, saying the eatery had shuttered.

Red Rabbit Ramen

• Red Rabbit Ramen announced social media that it would be closing up shop, with its last week of operations taking place during the week of March 4. The owners said that they are closing the ramen cart due to a change in their family situation.

Shake Shack

• The New York-based chain closed its restaurant at 1370 Polaris Parkway in September. The Polaris eatery was marked for closure along with the eight other locations nationwide given the restaurants "are not projected to provide acceptable returns in the foreseeable future."

Species X Beer Project

• The brewery and taproom at 408 N. 6th St. closed in October after opening in January. Species X was known for experimenting with artificial intelligence to craft two series of new beers.

The Daily Growler

• The beer garden welcomed patrons for the last time in August to the Powell location at 258 W. Olentangy River Road. The bar's closure dwindles the brand to two central Ohio locations, the original Upper Arlington store that opened in 2012 at 2812 Fishinger Road and a Brewery District spot at 702 S. High St. that launched in 2017.

The Pint Room

• The bar at 4415 W. Dublin Granville Road inside Dublin's Shoppes at River Ridge permanently shuttered earlier this fall. The bar, which first opened in 2012, had discontinued its website and deactivated its social media pages.

Tommy's Pizza

• The pizzeria closed its 174 W. Lane Ave. shop near Ohio State's campus in June. Tommy's, which also has Upper Arlington and Dublin locations, was founded in 1952, with the campus location operating for the past 45 years.

Weenie Wonder

• The fast casual eatery serving hot dogs and milkshakes permanently closed its Dublin and Easton locations on Feb. 6. The first restaurant opened at Bridge Park in 2022 and a second location followed at Easton in 2023.

Zamarelli's Pizza Palace

• The palace at 4011 Front St. in Grove City closed in March after 61 years. The pizza parlor offered customers a variety of options for decades from its pizza, subs and salads to other Italian dishes including spaghetti, gnocchi, eggplant parmesan and more.