CINCINNATI — More than a dozen Frisch's locations could be closing in the Tri-State as court records show several eviction cases filed against the Cincinnati-based company.
Our partners at The Journal-News reported Wednesday that the Dixie Highway location in Franklin and the Columbus Avenue location in Lebanon are expected to permanently close at 2 p.m. Thursday. Those might not be the only closures coming soon.
According to Hamilton County court documents, the real estate company NNN Reit first filed an eviction action against Frisch's in September over the company's "failure to pay over $4.5 million in rent" after initial default notices in February. That hearing was pushed back to Oct. 30 after Frisch's said it needed "additional time to review and prepare a response" to the filing.
NNN said in an Oct. 10 request to reschedule the eviction hearing that it had served 27 three-day notices to leave and filed 14 eviction actions in multiple Southwest Ohio counties — with more on the way.
Both the Dixie Highway location in Middletown and the Columbus Avenue location in Lebanon were among the Frisch's NNN filed an eviction action against, per court documents.
Locations identified in eviction cases in Hamilton County include:
- 4765 Montgomery Road in Norwood
- 9070 Plainfield Road in Blue Ash
- 9830 Colerain Avenue in Colerain Township
- 12150 Mason Montgomery Road in Symmes Township
- 7706 Beechmont Avenue in Anderson Township
- 5351 North Bend Road in Green Township
- 1181 Stone Drive in Harrison
- 11990 Chase Plaza Drive in Forest Park
- 5202 Delhi Road in Delhi Township
The court documents also stated that the rent for Frisch’s for October 2024 is $1.2 million "regardless of whether Frisch’s is occupying 6 or 65 properties."
Court documents in other Tri-State counties also show eviction filings against the West Plane Street location in Bethel, State Route 28 location in Loveland and the N. High Street location in Hillsboro. The Journal-News also reported a Middletown location on Germantown Road and a Dixie Highway location in Fairfield were also served eviction notices.
WCPO 9 went to one of Frisch’s locations facing eviction to hear from customers and get their reactions to the news.
"I was very sad and I wanted to come one more time," Frisch's customer John Withrow said.
"I just wish they’d keep them open — that’s a Cincinnati thing," said Joni Privett, another customer.
All the customers we spoke with told us they grew up going to Frisch's, and if their local restaurant closes they’ll just have to drive further.
"I used to go to the Frisch's in Milford and that’s where my dad taught us how to put a napkin in our lap, how to obey you know like do table manners and stuff," Privett said. "It’s always been something that we enjoy our meals at get it even when we’re traveling and stuff at the different Frisch’s."
WCPO reached out to the attorneys for both sides of this case for a comment, but have not heard back at this time. The next court date in Hamilton County is set for Oct. 30.
This isn't the first time a group of Frisch's locations in the Tri-State has closed in a short period of time. Frisch's locations in Erlanger, Covington, North College Hill and Spring Grove Village all closed in the span of one week this April.
