23 year old Italian restaurant could be demolished to make way for Chick-fil-A

It appears as if Worthington is trading chicken parmesan for chicken sandwiches, but it’s unclear when exactly that will happen.

According to Franklin County auditor’s office and property records, Chick-fil-A recently purchased the Worthington Buca di Beppo for $2.5 million, officially closing the deal on April 17. The submitted plans to the City of Worthington include a total demolition to make way for the popular Atlanta-based chicken chain, constructing a new 5,000 square-foot restaurant, complete with two drive-thru lanes. 

The 23 year old Italian restaurant, located at 60 E. Wilson Bridge Rd. in Worthington, is well known for its welcoming family-style Italian cuisine and playful yet rustic decor. Their PR team told 614Now, “Buca di Beppo has been notified that the real estate underlying its Worthington, Ohio, restaurant was sold to Chick-fil-A. Buca di Beppo has no plans to close the restaurant as Buca’s lease currently expires in April 2026, and Buca has the right to extend its lease for an additional 5-year period. Buca has been operating in Worthington, Ohio, for more than 20 years and looks forward to continuing to serve the community.”

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Demolishing former restaurants to make way for a Chick-fil-A is nothing new in central Ohio. Mackenzie River in Polaris closed earlier this year and will soon face the same fate as Buca di Beppo, along with Tee Jaye’s Country Place on N. High St. 

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