After nearly 30 years, Short North restaurant to close

It’s the end of an era for Columbus foodies, as longstanding Short North spot Lemongrass Fusion Bistro plans to close its doors before the end of the month.

According to second-generation owner Jesse Vitt, Lemongrass Fusion Bistro will close on June 28. The eatery is currently located at 641 N. High St., where it’s stood since the late 1990s when it first opened.

“We were lucky to really get to know some of our customers; people have even gotten married here,” he reminisced. “Nothing lasts forever, but it was a privilege to have been part of peoples’ lives.”

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Vitt attributed the closure to both the economy and the increase of third-party food delivery services, which he believes is making in-person restaurant dining increasingly less common.

He also said that, after decades operating a popular Short North eatery, he doesn’t plan to get back into the local food scene.

“No, I’m done with restaurants,” he said with a laugh.

Vitt, whose parents Pete and Chor Vitt originally opened the restaurant, said he’s not necessarily on the hunt for a buyer, but that naming rights and recipes for the eatery are currently for sale.

Lemongrass combines Asian, American and Mediterranean influences in its offerings, which include everything from pho and hibachi to Jerk Chicken and Grippo’s Tacos. According to a Short North Gazette story from 2019, it was the first Asian restaurant to open in the Short North, and Vitt believes it served as the first Asian fusion eatery in Columbus.

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