A longtime restaurant chain known for its Southern-inspired comfort food has abruptly shut down restaurants across Ohio, ending decades of business in several communities. The closures are part of a nationwide shutdown that marks a dramatic turn for a brand that once operated hundreds of restaurants.
O’Charley’s closes restaurants across Ohio
O’Charley’s closed its remaining company-operated restaurants on September 9, 2026, including locations in Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, and Mansfield, Ohio, according to local news reports.
The closures ended the chain’s 55-year run, which began in 1971 when the first restaurant opened near Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The brand became known for its Southern-style meals, including steaks, seafood, chicken tenders, burgers, and its signature yeast rolls.
Employees at several Ohio restaurants confirmed that their locations would close permanently at 8 p.m. on September 9. Workers reportedly received little advance notice, with some learning of the shutdown only a day before the restaurants closed…