New Chick-fil-A planned for central Ohio among several eateries under construction

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Chick-fil-A is preparing to build another central Ohio location, adding to the chain’s list of Columbus construction that includes bulldozing a Buca di Beppo and a shuttered restaurant that replaced Max and Erma’s.

The fast food chain will open a new eatery along the southeast corner of U.S. 23 in Lewis Center, according to a “coming soon” sign placed at Columbus Pike and Meadow Park Avenue. Chick-fil-A did not respond to NBC4’s request for comment, though fencing is up on the property and early site work has begun.

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Chick-fil-A’s new location is being built on a previously vacant site, taking up part of the parking lot north of the Powell Center shopping area. The center, which includes a Marshalls and was previously anchored by a Giant Eagle that closed in 2021, is currently being redeveloped after being purchased last year by a New York-based company.

The new build in Lewis Center is joining several other local properties readying for construction to make way for a Chick-fil-A. Buca di Beppo at 60 E. Wilson Bridge in Worthington is set to be demolished after the site was purchased by the fast food chain for $2.5 million.

Plans call for the Buca di Beppo to be bulldozed later in 2026 to clear the site for construction of a 5,000-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with a 2027 opening, a proposal approved by the city of Worthington states.

Mackenzie River, a shuttered central Ohio restaurant that replaced Max and Erma’s, auctioned off its furniture in March ahead of the building’s demolition to make room for a new Chick-fil-A. The grill and pub at 1515 Polaris Parkway, which launched in 2016 after Montana-based Glacier Restaurant Group purchased all Max and Erma’s locations, closed earlier this year after eight years in business.

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The building will be bulldozed to clear the site for construction of a new 4,800 square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant, a permit under review by the city of Columbus states. The fast food chain did not respond to request for comment on whether the existing Chick-fil-A restaurant at 8787 Sancus Blvd., less than a mile away from the new site, is closing.

Other recent Chick-fil-A launches in and around Columbus include a new Clintonville location which opened in April at the former home of Tee Jaye’s Country Place that closed in 2021. Construction at this site included preserving the site’s 20th-century sign that has received a facelift with Chick-fil-A branding.

The chicken chain’s New Albany location opened in October of last year, one of many restaurants that have recently expanded into Hamilton Quarter. Others that have opened there or are scheduled to soon include Café Zupas, DiBella’s Subs, Torchy’s Tacos and the Original Pancake House.

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