20 national and regional restaurant chains setting up shop in the Columbus market

Jim Weiker, The Columbus Dispatch

November 12, 2021 at 3:19 PM·3 min read

More than a dozen out-of-town chains have opened or announced plans to open Columbus-area locations in the past year.

Columbus' diversity, prosperity and relatively inexpensive real estate make it an ideal place to explore and expansion or try a new concept, according to business and marketing experts.

Here are some of the new concepts expanding in Columbus

• Another Broken Egg: The Louisiana chain plans to soon open its first Columbus restaurant at Easton Town Center.

• Barra Tacos & Cocktails: The Sandusky operation opened its first Columbus-area location in Upper Arlington in the spring.

Upper Arlington restaurant: Barra Tacos boasts salsas made in-house, slow-roasted meats

Among the selections at Beerhead Bar & Eatery: the Barbarian pretzel, Goodfella pizza and Tatchos

• Beerhead Bar & Eatery: The Chicago chain opened in Hamilton Quarter in New Albany over the summer.

• Black Box Fix: The Lyndhurst sandwich shop opened its first expansion location at Easton Town Center in the spring.

Longtime Bojangles franchisee Jeff Rigsby plans to open 15 restaurants in central Ohio.

• Bojangles: The Charlotte, North Carolina, chain announced that it will open 15 Columbus-area restaurants.

• Dave's Hot Chicken: The Los Angeles chain plans to open 13 Columbus-area restaurants, including one at 3590 W. Dublin-Granville Road.

New Columbus restaurants: What's replacing Ruby Tuesday's, Joe's Crab Shack, Payless at Sawmill-161

• Del Taco: The Lake Forest, California, chain opened its third Ohio location in Whitehall in the summer.

• Galla Park Steak: The Cincinnati restaurant opened its first Columbus location in the Short North in the spring.

Galla Park restaurant review: New Short North restaurant takes modern approach to classic steakhouse model

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouse: The Moline, Illinois, chain announced plans to open its first Columbus location in the new Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suite in the Easton area.

• LemonShark Poke & Makai Grill: The Beverly Hills, California, chain opened its first Columbus location at Easton Town Center early this year and followed that with plans to open a second Columbus location in the University District.

Lemonshark restaurant review: Easton restaurant centers on seafood to tantalize the senses

• The Roosevelt Room: The Cincinnati bar plans to open its first Columbus-area location in Dublin's Bridge Park.

Roots Natural Kitchen will open its first Ohio restaurant in the University Square development on High Street and 15th Avenue.

• Roots Natural Kitchen: The Charlottesville, Virginia, chain just opened its first Columbus restaurant at 10 E. 15th Ave. in the University District.

• Saucy Brew Works: The Cleveland brewery and coffeehouse opened its first Columbus location in Harrison West in late 2020.

Harrison West restaurant: At Saucy Brew Works, little menu flourishes add up

Sheetz opened its first store in central Ohio in Delaware in April

• Sheetz: The Altoona, Pennsylvania, gas station and convenience store opened the first of what is expected to be 50 locations in the Columbus area in the spring.

• Slurping Turtle: The Ann Arbor restaurant opened its first Columbus location at Easton Town Center in late 2020.

• Sono Wood Fired: The Chicago chain opened its first location outside the Windy City at Easton Town Center this year.

Easton restaurant: From Windy City to Arch City, Sono Wood fired finds spot in Easton

TownHall has a "clean eating menu" at its location at 792 N. High Street in the Short North

• TownHall: The Cleveland restaurant opened its first Columbus location early this year in the Short North.

• Torchy's Tacos: The Austin, Texas, chain plans to open Columbus-area outlets, including one at 3730 W. Dublin-Granville Road, after testing the market with a Milo-Grogan ghost kitchen.

• True Food Kitchen: The Arizona chain opened its first Ohio location at Easton Town Center in late 2020.

• Tupelo Honey: The Ashville, North Carolina, chain announced plans to open its first Ohio restaurant in the Westmont at the Lane development in Upper Arlington.

Patrick Cooley contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 20 new Columbus restaurant chains testing the waters

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