Top headlines of the week, Sept. 19 2025
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The final Hot Chicken Takeover location in Columbus’s North Market has permanently closed.The restaurant chain’s parent company, Craveworthy Brands, defaulted on its lease, owing significant back rent.All other Hot Chicken Takeover locations in the Columbus area had previously closed earlier in the year.
The last remaining Hot Chicken Takeover location has closed.
The fast-casual Columbus-born chain has officially closed all of its locations, officially shutting down its North Market restaurant, according to Rick Harrison Wolfe, CEO and executive director of North Market.
After spending 11 years at 59 Spruce St., Wolfe said the parent company of the brand is in default of its lease “owing the Market significant amounts in back rent as well as other outstanding expenses.”
Craveworthy Brands, which bought the Hot Chicken Takeover brand in 2024, could not be immediately reached for comment.
“It is particularly disappointing given the history we share. North Market was proud to be the very first brick-and-mortar home for Hot Chicken Takeover, and we celebrated their growth as a brand that started here. To see the relationship deteriorate to this point saddens me — not just because of the financial strain it creates for the Market but because of the broken trust and missed opportunities to work together toward a solution.”
Hot Chicken Takeover began closing locations earlier this year, starting with its restaurants in Lewis Center and Easton Town Center. In September, its sites in Westerville, Grandview Heights and Gahanna also shut down.
Trending features reporter Amani Bayo contributed to reporting and can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
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