Regional restaurant chains look to expand in central Ohio

View Larger The Bottom Line Other Business Features Local Stories from ThisWeek By Tim Feran The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday April 23, 2014 1:33 AM

Two Cincinnati restaurant operators have announced plans for Columbus locations, adding to a trend in which a growing number of restaurateurs has targeted central Ohio for expansion.

Nada, an upscale Mexican restaurant, will open its second location in the Arena District, while LaRosas Family Pizzeria will follow through on long-rumored plans with the opening of a Dublin restaurant.

They join a growing parade of restaurant operators from across the state that have either opened central Ohio restaurants or announced such plans: Melt Bar & Grilled (Cleveland), Tom + Chee (Cincinnati), Bakersfield (Cincinnati), Deweys Pizza (Cincinnati), Barry Bagels (Toledo) and Bar 145 (Toledo).

Also, Cleveland celebrity chef Michael Symon is looking for up to four central Ohio locations for his B Spot Burgers, Brats & Beer.

And, a little beyond the border, West Virginia-based Pies & Pints continues its Columbus-area expansion.

The reason for the trend?

At some point, if youre doing well, you want to expand out of your heritage place, and the smart thing is not to leap too far away, said Dennis Lombardi, executive vice president of food-service strategies for WD Partners, a restaurant consulting firm in Columbus.

If you are within a three-hour drive, it makes life easier for you to oversee and manage the properties, not just through construction but when theyre in operation. Your existing suppliers will also work just fine, too, if youre close by.

Columbus enviable economic stability also makes it a prime target for restaurant expansion, he said.

See the original post here:
Regional restaurant chains look to expand in central Ohio