Lovers of the Front Door/Back Door’s chicken salad need not worry; according to the restaurant’s new owners, Steve McLemore and Jim Lewis, Chef Sarah Labensky’s recipes are in good hands.
McLemore, a former medical equipment salesman, and Lewis, who has more than 35 years of restaurant experience, have taken over as owners/operators of the popular downtown Columbus eatery today.
“I had been in the medical equipment business for 30 years and I wanted to do something different,” McLemore said. “I looked at several vacant restaurant building in town and then I saw a story on TV about Sarah closing the Front Door. I had been talking with Jim, who used to run Barnhill’s, about us opening a restaurant. We went to Sarah to ask her about hiring her staff and buying some equipment. Sarah told us we could buy the whole thing. So we did.”
While McLemore is a longtime Columbus resident, Lewis said he has worked in the restaurant industry in Columbus four times. Now has the opportunity to make the Friendly City his home.
“I have always liked Columbus, but this is where I want to live,” he said.
The restaurant opened in 1996 and Labensky purchased it in 2006. Labensky said she decided to get out of her successful business to pursue other activities.
“The lease is up and I’ve had it six-and-a-half years,” said Labesnky, who will stay on for 30 days as a consultant. “The restaurant industry is tough. I was ready to get back to my life. I plan on staying in Columbus. I’m in the process of publishing the sixth edition of “On Cooking” and I want to focus on that and some other books and projects. I still plan on producing a Front Door cookbook, which will be sold in the restaurant. I’m just looking forward to coming in and eating a reuben and being a customer.”
McLemore and Lewis said they are not only trying to preserve the restaurant’s traditions, but they are also keeping Labesnky’s long-time employees.
“I was heartbroken when Sarah said she was closing the doors,” said kitchen manager Mattie Hill, who has worked for Labesnky since 2007. “I’m glad it’s going to continue because people get to keep their jobs and the traditions will go on.”
The new owners said tradition is the cornerstone of their mission statement.
“The Front Door/Back Door has been around a long time and it has a lot of traditions,” said McLemore. “It seemed like a shame to let it close. There is a lot of potential here. We plan on opening for dinner and we have some plans for the retail space up front.”
Although there will be some minor changes implemented over time, Labensky said she has a verbal commitment that two of her more popular dishes will remain unchanged.
“They promised me they wouldn’t touch the chicken salad or tortilla soup recipes,” she said.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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