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Clintonville is getting another new dining option next year.
LongHorn Steakhouse will be taking over the former Bob Evans space at 5091 N. High St. in the Graceland Shoping Center.
The 562-unit chain is owned by Orlando-based Darden Concepts Inc. (NYSE: DRI), also owners of Olive Garden Italian Kitchen, Seasons 52 and the Yard House, among other brands.
The company said the restaurant is expected to open in late spring 2024.
“We’re thrilled to bring our personalized service and distinctive experience to the Clintonville community,” it said in a statement.
Construction is underway and the company is in the process of acquiring liquor licenses for the site, but there is one matter still to be resolved. The restaurant’s liquor option for Sunday sales will be on the November ballot for community approval.
Nationally LongHorn is performing well. Same restaurant sales were up 7.4% in the past fiscal year, which ended May 28. Total sales for the chain increased 10% in 2023 to $2.61 billion.
The brand also scores well with customers as it consistently sits near the top of the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s annual customer satisfaction survey.
There are five LongHorn Steakhouses in Central Ohio: Grove City, Pickerington, Dublin, Gahanna and Heath.
The new steakhouse is just the latest in a local surge of that segment spanning multiple price points.
Cut 132 opened at Easton Town Center earlier this year. Mastro’s steakhouse is headed there as well. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is planning a new steakhouse downtown. Outback Steakhouse added a new location on Polaris Parkway last year.
There has been some attrition.
Smith & Wollensky at Easton closed, though it said it would like to reopen in Columbus in a site closer to downtown. The Texas Roadhouse on Bethel Road closed due to tax issues with the state, though the Louisville, Kentucky-based company said the franchised location was in the process of closing anyway.
Clintonville’s restaurant scene continues to evolve, also across concepts and price points. The Crest on Indianola will be changing over to the Yellow Springs Taproom and Kitchen. Gyropolis is now open where Rodos Greek Taverna once operated. Rodos relocated to Linworth. A Chick-fil-A is still in the works at Morse and High Streets where Tee Jaye’s Country Place once stood.