Seemingly overnight, Logan’s Roadhouse has closed in Columbus.
Business seemed as usual last week, but the eatery at 589 18th Ave N. is officially no more. Without much warning, a sheet of paper was taped to restaurant’s doors announcing its closure.
“We’ve enjoyed serving you, your families, and friends over the past several years,” the sign reads. “The moments you’ve shared with our team have been phenomenal and we appreciate the support you’ve shown us. Unfortunately, this location is now closed.”
News reports scattered across the country have announced similar Logan’s Roadhouse closures that have taken communities by surprise in Gonzales, Louisiana; Corpus Christi, Texas; Ocala, Florida; Opelika, Alabama and more.
Craftworks Holdings, which has operated the Logan’s chain since late 2018, closed several restaurants in recent weeks. Josh Kern, Craftworks Holdings chief experience officer, said in a press statement the closures were “purely a business decision.”
Craftworks Holdings operates Logan’s Roadhouse and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom locations, among other restaurant-brewery brands.
When asked specifically about the Columbus location, Kern responded with a press release announcing the company’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The release came after the company closed 37 of its “underperforming locations.”
“As a further step forward in our transformation, we exited in recent weeks a select group of our locations that were our poorest performers,” Chief Executive Officer Hazem Ouf said in the press release.
In 2016, the Columbus location survived when the Nashville-based corporation filed for bankruptcy protection, leading to 18 restaurant closures. The restaurant first opened in Columbus in 2011 in a now heavily trafficked area. Its departure leaves a viable location for an incoming restaurant or business poised near three hotels.
In other news of restaurant closures, it appears both Columbus and West Point Huddle House locations have closed their doors.
The Dispatch has not heard back from Huddle House corporate office, but a sign posted on the Columbus location’s door reads, “closed for employee meeting.” The Columbus location’s online listed phone number is no longer active, while the West Point listed phone number rings continuously. Online, the breakfast joint in Columbus at 2009 Military Road and West Point at 230 US 45 Alt., are both listed as “closed.”
Huddle House did not return multiple calls and messages to The Dispatch by press time today.
Sometimes when there’s bad business news, there’s a silver lining. With two businesses going out, a new business popped up on Main Street, literally.
The Pop-Up Shop, 515 Main St., has taken over the former Mira Mira location and opened for business last week. Shop owners Chaney Fair and Jordyn Gill have joined forces to offer customers a new place to shop with trendy and affordable clothing and accessories for women and children.
Gill started Cobalt’s Boutique, a women’s online retailer in September 2019, while Fair opened Little Magnolia Co., a children’s boutique, this February. By joining together, Gill and Fair turned their online market into their first brick-and-mortar shop.
“We found this place and we thought, ‘We have to do this,'” Fair said. “We felt like Columbus needed something fun and something unique.”
The Pop-Up Shop is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and will be open every other Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Be sure to check out Pop-Up’s Spring open house March 14 offering food, discounts and drawings.
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