Local family buys recently closed 70 year old restaurant with renovations underway to reopen soon
Many families in Upper Arlington have bygone memories of stopping into the neighborhood diner at 2090 Tremont Center for candy bars, milkshakes, cherry Cokes, and a huge pancake breakfast. And now, those memories won’t be just something of the past.
After nearly 70 years of dining service, Chef-O-Nette’s temporarily closed last February after the owner was ready to retire and sell the institution dating back to 1955. Abigail Stellern and her family thought this would be the perfect opportunity to continue the Chef-O-Nette’s legacy. Her father, Mike Purdum, is the owner of Old Bag of Nails, and he’ll have ownership of Chef-O-Nette’s as well.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
“We, as a family, have been Upper Arlington residents for a long time,” Stellern explained. “I even still live here now with my husband. It was a business decision, but it was also a family decision.”
Stellern is the vice president of strategy and growth for Old Bag of Nails, and the restaurant operated in the Tremont Center before moving and turning into a pizza concept. Stellern emphasized that the Tremont Center holds a special place in the family’s heart.
Currently, Chef-O-Nette’s is in the process of refreshening. Stellern said that part of the arrangement of the restaurant purchase was closing it down temporarily for some renovations, such as back-of-house construction, gutting the kitchen for new appliances, installing a new walk-in cooler, hood systems, HVAC systems, and updating the bathrooms, which have all been completed. “Right now, we’re at the fun part! Booth coverings, wallpaper choices, all of that,” said Stellern.
The cozy dark wood & vintage diner mood will all be the same as the restaurant Columbus has known and loved for decades, assured Stellern. “It will feel very similar when you walk in,” she said. “I don’t think people will feel a huge change, but we’ll just be brightening it up and refreshing it.”
And of course, we can’t mention Chef-O-Nette’s reopening without discussing the food. The menu will feature familiar classics, such as breakfast dishes and traditional diner food, but the new owners are also bringing in new items such as homemade cinnamon rolls and – yes – vintage candies, milkshakes, and soda pop.
They’re aiming for a February or March opening, just in time for the restaurant’s 70th anniversary. The new version of Chef-O-Nette’s will be starting a breakfast service at 7am instead of the past 9am opening, and there’s a possibility it will be open for a dinner service as well, based on community desires.
“The community’s been supportive and patient as we’ve taken the time to reopen,” Stellern said gratefully.
We’ll keep you updated once we know an exact opening date, but the wait should be over soon!
Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
