Friday Food Bites: Thurn’s Meats, Tudie’s Cookies, Smokehouse Brewing closing; Urban Gourmet joins East Market

There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• Thurn’s Specialty Meats shared the news this week that it will be closing its doors Memorial Day weekend 2024. The family-run business is currently operated by Albert Thurn, fourth generation to run the place since 1886; Thurn’s has been located at 530 Greenlawn Ave. since 1965.
• Lenny Kolada, owner of Smokehouse Brewing, announced this week that the Grandview brewery will close after 25 years in business. Open since 1998 at 1130 Dublin Rd., Smokehouse was one of Columbus’ first microbreweries of the modern wave. The brewery’s last day will be Jan. 2, 2024. (Compared to the 70+ in central Ohio today, when we moved to central Ohio in 2002, there were four breweries: Smokehouse, Barley’s, Elevator, and CBC!)
• Tudie’s Cookies & Sweet also announced this week that it will be closing at end of the year, citing the need to refocus on jobs and family. In 2022, Tudie’s Cookies moved to 3009 N. High St. in Clintonville (Pattycake Bakery’s original spot). Tudie’s last day will be Dec. 31.
• Taqueria El Girasol celebrated its grand opening last week at 30 Westerview Dr. in Westerville.
• Urban Gourmet Burgers & Wings has opened its stall at East Market. It takes over part of the former Butcher & Grocer space. The stall features burgers, pastas, sandwiches, salads, and wings.
• Aangan Indian Bistro celebrates its grand re-opening in its new space on Sunday, Dec. 24. After closing its Crosswoods location earlier this year, Aangan moved to 5855 Frantz Rd. in Dublin.
• Business First broke the news last week that Mikey’s Late Night Slice is adding another location, this one in University Square at 15th and High streets.
• The location of Peace, Love, & Little Donuts in Old Worthington was briefly closed last week as ownership changed hands.
• Last call for Winking Lizard’s Westerville location! After 20+ years in business, the beer bar and restaurant is closing today, Dec. 22.
• A touring Broadway-themed musical dining experience is coming to Bristol Republic Feb. 25 and March 24 of next year.

This week I’m also writing:

• 30 Notable Columbus Restaurant Openings in 2023
• 20 Re-Openings, Expansions, and Moves in 2023
• Ice Bumper Cars, Keg Curling, and Igloos at Land-Grant’s Wintergarden and Gravity Experience Park

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