The longtime Houlihan’s at Upper Arlington’s Kingsdale shopping center is on its way out, and a familiar local name is stepping in. Ohio restaurateur Rick Doody is taking over the space with a new neighborhood concept, Arlington Grille, aimed squarely at steady lunch and dinner traffic from the surrounding community.
According to Columbus Business First, Doody will convert the former Houlihan’s spot at Kingsdale Center into the Arlington Grille. The June 2, 2026, report notes that a detailed menu and firm opening date have not yet been announced.
Doody’s track record
Doody is no rookie in the restaurant game. He co-founded the Bravo and Brio chains and has long been behind neighborhood fixtures like Lindey’s and Cedar Creek Grille, blending national-chain savvy with local-spot instincts. His role in building those brands is outlined in his Arhaus board profile.
What Arlington Grille will be
So what exactly is Arlington Grille? Early word is that it will be a grille tailored to Upper Arlington’s tastes, with plans to rework the dining room layout and fine-tune service for a neighborhood-oriented crowd. The initial report from Columbus Business First serves as the first public confirmation of the project.
Casual-dining shakeup
The move comes amid a larger reshuffling in the casual-dining world, where big chains have been pulling back, and independent operators are moving into those empty dining rooms. Restaurant Dive recently detailed Chapter 11 filings and closures connected to the Bravo and Brio lineage, highlighting the pressure on midscale concepts and the openings that create for local players.
Where it sits and what’s next
The former Houlihan’s at Kingsdale is listed on Houlihan’s site at 3150 Tremont Road in Upper Arlington, giving Arlington Grille a high-visibility corner in a dense residential area. Early coverage did not include details on buildout schedules, permitting, or a projected opening timeline, so neighbors will have to wait a bit longer for those answers…