As we all know the COVID 19 greatly affected the restaurant industry, forcing many restaurants to reduce hours, cut entire service shifts and close on days they were usually open. Almost two years from when the Corona virus first started to spread, restaurants are still feeling the effect. Many struggled to recover from lost profits, pay back debts, and fill staff openings amid a labor shortage.
The following restaurants closed their doors for good in 2022:
Opereated as Coneyland over 10 years with 3 operators but then closed until Mike Davis relaunching it in the summer of 2021 as The Bun Bros Coneyland. After his unexpected deat
h in Nov of 21, the family decided to close the hot dog stand.
Donuts & More
Downtown’s only donut shop that was located at 28 N. Wilkinson St closed their doors for good on Feb 7th, 2022
Wiley’s Tenders
Opened in Jan of 2021 on Brandy Pike in Huber Heights, this concept created by Ray Wiley, founder of Hot Head Burrito’s and Rapid Fire Pizza just didn’t seem to work and was closed in Feb of 22.
Spinoza’s at the Fairfield Commons
Owner Glen Brailey said upon closing the pizza business in March of 2022“Spinoza’s has had a good run. The past 13 years have been filled with many memorable moments…from sold-out beer dinners and fundraising events to jam-packed evenings with world-class musicians to after-hours conversations on the patio with friends and patrons.”
Bob Evans, Englewood
In March of 222 the following notice was posted on the doors of the eatery. “Thank you for being our guest. “This restaurant has closed permanently, but we’d love to have you at our nearby locations.”
Home Sweet Home Brookville
Owners of the successful Englewood’s ‘Home Sweet Home Cafe’ went west to open a 2nd location in January of 2022, but the challenge of keeping both restaurants staffed during covid just proved to be to much and they shut down the Brookville location after a few months.
Apna Punjab Indian Restaurant & Bar
Opened quietly in January of 2022 on Needmore Road, got great reviews and according to it’s Facebook page closed temporarily due to a family medical emergency and never reopened.
Gyro Delight
Opened in Oct of 2016 in the Sugarcreek Plaza. After six years owner Muhanad Khaled closed the business when his lease expired.
Bessie’s HomeMade Noodles Deli
After years of success on the festival circuit, selling their frozen products in local grocery stores, Matt and Monica Easterling opened a bricks and mortar store in Fairborn in Feb of 2022. The deli carried Bessie’s noodles as well as fresh ground beef, steaks, pork chops, baked goods, ice cream, meats and cheeses. In June of 2022, they closed the deli, but kept the building to use for manufacturing and distribution of their noodles.
Rye Toast
Chef Tom Tiner opened the diner in April of 2021 serving up breakfast and lunch in this Miamisburg spot that had previously been home to Star City BBQ “Well it is with a heavy heart that I must inform everyone that due to the rise in the cost of goods we are permanently closed as of today 6/9/22!” was the announcement he posted on Facebook.
416 Diner
Opened in July of 2017, buy Guy Fragmin, a former advertising executive turned first time restaurant owner. On June 9th of 2022 he posted this on his social media.”We have had the honor and privilege of serving this great community these past 5 years. Our pride in product and service is only surpassed by the multitude of new friends we made along the way. I have made the somber decision to close 416 Diner’s current location in The Oregon District.”
Christopher’s Restaurant
Operated for over 30 years, owner Chip Pritchard sold the business in July of 2019 to frequent customersDave and Erika Krites. After not being able to come to a new lease agreement the business closed on June of 2022. But this one has a happy ending, in October they found a new home at 4211 Linden and are now open 3 nights a week.
The Wellington Grille
After 24 years in business in Beavercreek, Owner Mary Seto Miller says she’s happy and sad about closing the business on June 21st. Considered Dayton restaurant royalty, Miller opened her first restaurant, The Barnsider in 1975, followed by Harrison’s in Tipp City and the Blue Berry Cafe in Bellbrook. She said at 81 she is 81 years old, fighting staffing issues, food shortages and rising costs, it was just time. Look for Old Scratch Pizza to open it’s third store at this location in 2023.
The Greene Canteen
Opened in April of 2019, owners Brittany and Tim Baum were were proud to serve a menu “clean food” including an array of salads, soups, sandwiches, many of which were gluten-free and often vegan. On June 30 they announced that due to ongoing pandemic and health issues they had closed the business. Miguel’s Poke Island bought the building at 101 Corry St, Yellow Springs.
Butts BBQ
Once home to Cadillac Jack’s, then Crossroads BBQ & More, April 12, 2021 was opening day for BUTTS BBQ in Fairborn. It closed in July of 22.
Zemore’s Wine Cellar and Bistro
The Zemores purchased the business in 2016 that had originally opened as Cindy’s Wine Cellar in 1999 and then became Cuvée Wine Bar and Cellar by a second owner. After running the business for 6 years, owners Greg and Melanie Zemore decided they were ready to retire and put the business up for sale in May of 2022 and closed the business July 13th.
BBQ Pit Stop
Damon Daniel opened the bricks and mortar eatery on Smithville Road on April 1 after six years of running his Smoking Barrels food truck. He closed the shop at the end of July, but is still operating the food truck
Jason’s Deli
This Texas based chain opened it’s Beavercreek eatery in April of 2019. They announced their closing via social media. “Hello everyone, unfortunately we have come to the tough decision to close the 2819 Centre Dr, Beavercreek, OH deli location, effective on August 1st, 2022.”
KJ’s in Germantown
Know for good pancakes, cinnamon rolls and biscuits, in a friendly setting. On August 13th this was posted on their Facebook page. “I am closing KJ’s as of today.”
The Heights Cafe
Opened in 2010, this neighborhood coffee shop and eatery struggled post pandemic with staffing. In June they stopped their food service, offering beverages only and closed in August. Their neighbors, who own Alematic Artisan Ales will be opening B-Side Coffee Bar in early 2023.
Basil’s on Market
Opened at 312 N. Patterson Blvd in 2016, co-owner Jeff Finklestein said staffing issues and rising costs made them unable to recover after the pandemic and they closed the downtown location on Aug 20th. Their Beavercreek and Troy locations remain open.
The Sugar Guild
Chef DD Pearson opened this breakfast spot in fall of 2021 on Wayne Avenue. Serving up brunch and they were slowly growing a reputation for great omelettes, waffles, andFrench toast. Then suddenly this post appeared on their social media on Aug 23, 2022; “The Sugar Guild will be closing. We will not open this weekend. This is both heartbreaking and unexpected. Not sure what the future holds, but we know it’s not over.” But indeed it’s not over, as they have found a home serving breakfast and lunch Sat and Sun and lunch Friday at The Red Carpet Tavern at 3301 Wayne Avenue.
Orange Leaf Town & Country
Around for about 10 years, it announced in August that “It is with much sadness that we have decided to close this location.”
Chicka Wings
Adam Price, the owner of Chicka Wing opened in May of 2022, but citing rising product costs and electrical issues closed this Huber Heights spot in Sept. This location will soon be opening as Cassano’s
Subway Yellow Springs
The franchise stated that the business had not recovered from a drop in sales precipitated by the pandemic and closed the business in Sept of 2022,
Hot Head Burritos
The 6228 Far Hills Ave. locaiton in Washington Twp., has closed its doors saying they never recouped its sales from COVID and they were struggling with continued staffing issues.
Rolling Mill Brewery Co
Owners Joshua and Megan Laubach opened Ohio’s only dedicated gluten-free brewery in 2017 in Middletown. They closed Sept 30th stating “we barely survived the COVID shut down and now are facing inflation on our materials and services with already more expensive gluten free inputs. we simply can no longer operate in this scenario.”
Rusty Taco
This was the 3rd Dayton area franchise run by John Slaughenhaupt and was opened in March of 2017. It was closed in Oct of 2022. The location will soon be the new home of Thai Kitchen, which is moving from their Kingsridge location.
Yagoot
This franchised frozen yogurt shop opened in the Marketplace at Settlers Walk in Springboro in fall of 2018. They closed in November of 2022.
Burger King
With a still unexplained suddenness, the home of the whopper closed locations in Centerville, Sugarcreek Township, Fairborn, Vandalia and Dayton
Sweeney’s Seafood
This Centerville eatery, originally opened by Ron and Christy Sweeney in 1994 and sold to Lisa Long and partners in 2012, was put up for sale and then Long announced she’d be retiring and closed the business on December 3rd.
Evans Bakery
In 1969 Bill Evans bought the business and ran the bakery with his family before he sold in in 2004. The new owner operated it for about 7 years before it closed. Evans, who still owned the building, found a new owner, his daughter who then ran the bakery for 10 years and just recently closed it on Dec 17th.
Cheeky Meat Pies
A staple at the 2nd Street Market for years posted on social media “We have decided, after long deliberation, that we are closing at the end of the year. We are currently looking for a buyer.”
The Sugar Shoppe Bakery Brookville
This was posted to their Facebook page in November. “We have decided to close our bakery completely. We want to thank all of our amazing customers that have been so supportive all these years. We truly could not have done any of this without you. We feel at this point in our lives, our children and families deserve our time, and we cannot give that to them while keeping the bakery open.”
TeaBerries
1600 E Leffel Ln, Springfield, OH 45505
Posted on their social media sight today that they are permanently closing.
Steve & Tammy’s Tavern
209 Byers Road in Miamisburg
Announced the business is up for sale Dec 26th and Dec 31st would be the last day open.
The coast isn’t clear just yet; we may still lose some more beloved eateries. We implore you to support our local restaurants and be aware that staffing continues to be a challenge and prices continue to increase.
La Casa de Los Primos Mexican Restaurant
Val’s Home Bakery 
Jennifer has never envisioned herself running the bakery. She’d gotten an engineering degree and had been working in that field for about 15 years in Michigan. But she was looking for a change, and her partner Matt Tepper, who was a city manager in the Detroit area, also felt the need for a change. So they both moved to Dayton and on Dec 17th of 2012 they reopened Evans Bakery. Jennifer felt inspired to restore the bakery and bring vibrancy to the neighborhood she’d grown up in.
Lock 27 Brewing and Bill’s Donut Shop have partnered to create a donut inspired beer to kick off the holiday season right! Released on Black Friday, this collaborative beer is the final step in a partnership that has been brewing for years. Bill’s Donut Shop Stout is a pastry stout brewed with ingredients sourced straight from the Bill’s Donut shop bakery.
La Base (pronounced bas- ey) opened for business at last Saturday in the former Pizza Hut on Broad Street in Fairborn. Owner Efran Torres, we also owns restaurants in Columbus, says they named their restaurant after the Air Force base, but uses the Mexican pronunciation giving Base 2 syllables.
And don’t forget to save room for dessert. Offerings include flan, sopapilla, fried ice cream, tres leches cake, tiramisu, churro sandwiches and chimi cheesecake.
Chris Hunter spent 17 years in prison on a non-violent drug charge, and spent his time cooking in prison kitchens. With hard word and earned time for good behavior he was released early this past May. He quickly got a job working at Butter Cafe. After working there a few months, he approached Amy, the owner, about being able to do a pop up business out of the building, similar to how Isiah Davis of The Cookieologist launched his business. Chris has been eager to use his second chance, to share the flavorful soul food he loves to cook.
