Lack of business, setbacks force Nancy’s Home Cooking to close
Nancy’s Home Cooking, the venerable Columbus diner, has closed its Downtown restaurant after a few difficult months at the location.
According to a posting on the restaurant’s Facebook page, it will continue to operate as delivery only.
“We have decided to CLOSE the restaurant effective immediately. 2020 has been a tough year on all of us,” stated the Facebook posting.
In February, the restaurant’s owner, Rick Hahn, announced that Nancy’s was moving to the Downtown spot, at 52 E. Lynn Street, after more than 50 years on High Street in Clintonville.
The move was a reluctant one, prompted by problems with the space the restaurant leased, said Hahn.
Soon after announcing the decision, the coronavirus hit, closing much of
Downtown and sidelining office workers who would have been the restaurant’s base. Hahn moved forward, however, but was hit with another challenge on May 30 when the restaurant was looted during the George Floyd protests Downtown.
The restaurant was never able to gain a footing, according to the Facebook post.
“With downtown being closed, and then Covid and several setbacks on top of a destroyed restaurant from the looting, it eventually had taken its toll,” according the post.
“Listening to downtown businesses and state representatives talk about an uncertain future for downtown life, this led to our decision. ... business is definitely not where it should be for us.”
The post said Nancy’s will continue to make and deliver food.
“We have opened a delivery kitchen in the Short North for delivery service only,” stated the post. “We will be adding other delivery services soon.” jweiker@dispatch.com @Jimweiker