Panera closes Brewery District location on S. High

A popular Panera Bread on South High Street in the Brewery District is now closed.

Messages posted in the windows Thursday say the closure is temporary, but no return date was given and all other signage was removed.

A two-story sign hanging over High Street that displayed the fast casual chain’s logo is now blank. Save the messages taped to the inside of the windows, there was nothing to indicate that the building at 684 S. High St. once housed a Panera.

The messages invite customers to try one of several nearby Panera Breads.

A representative of Covelli Enterprises, the local Panera franchisee, did not respond to voicemails seeking comment. Thurdsday, the restaurant was still listed as one of the company’s stores on its website, however Google reports the location is closed permanently.

The building once housed the Clarmont, a white-tablecloth steakhouse that was popular with Columbus power brokers, but closed in 2012 in the wake of the Great Recession.

The dining institution was one of the oldest steakhouses in the city when it shuttered. pcooley@dispatch.com @Patrickacooley