National Italian restaurant chain files for bankruptcy; 23 year old central Ohio location set for demolition

An Orlando based restaurant chain known for their family-style Italian food and mile high lasagnas has officially filed for bankruptcy, which could possibly affect both of their longstanding central Ohio locations.

Buca di Beppo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week, with the filing indicating they owe $15 million-$50 million to at least 30 different creditors. They cited a rise in food and labor costs, plus a large decline in sales.

“This is a strategic step towards a strong future for Buca di Beppo,” stated Rich Saultz, president of the company in a released statement. “While the restaurant industry has faced significant challenges, this move is the best next step for our brand. By restructuring with the continued support of our lenders, we are paving the way toward a reinvigorated future.”

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Last week, Buca abruptly closed multiple restaurants across multiple different states. The two remaining restaurants here in central Ohio (the aforementioned located in Worthington, plus the popular Arena District restaurant) have not announced plans to close anytime soon, and will operate as usual. Buca di Beppo’s statement emphasized that they’re planning on “restructuring” the existing restaurants instead of closing them.

However, a couple of months ago, the Buca di Beppo location over in Worthington was purchased by Chick-Fil-A for $2.5 million, and the approved plans submitted to the City of Worthington include a total demolition of the Italian restaurant to make way for the fried chicken chain. The lease doesn’t expire until April 2026 though, and Buca told 614Now, “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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