The new Eddie George’s Grille 27 is open on a day when the Ohio State Buckeyes may set an NFL Draft record.
The restaurant, named for the legendary OSU running back, completed its move to Grandview Yard and opened Thursday offering fans a place to watch potential future stars such as Ezekiel Elliot and Joey Bosa find their professional homes.
The eatery, owned by G3 Restaurants, relocated from its 10-year home at 1636 N. High St. in OSU’s Gateway development to 775 Yard Street in the Grandview Heights development over the span of three days this week.
Eddie George’s replaced the Buckeye Hall of Fame Grill, which was owned by Grandview Yard developer Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd. and operated by a contractor. The developer just wanted to be the landlord for the space, not its operator, so it courted Eddie George’s.
“The move makes sense to us based on who our guest is and who we want it to be,” G3 President Marc Buehler told me in January when the move was announced.
While the OSU tie-in remains, G3 did not just take over the old space. It gutted it, most noticeably taking down some interior dividers, including some that housed OSU memorabilia.
It also reworked the bar, changing it from a linear bar across the back wall to a rounded bar that juts out into the middle of the restaurant.
Some old features were retained, such as the private dining room.
There’s still some nostalgic touches — old helmets and pictures — but it isn’t quite the shrine to the Buckeyes it was before.
The new layout is larger than the predecessor with space for up to 400 diners including its two side patios.
The new restaurant arrives amid another busy year for the 125-acre development. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and 3,400 employees are moving into new offices this summer. An event center and 135-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel is under construction, as is a 166-unit apartment complex to go with the 274 apartments already open and a new 13,000-square-foot clubhouse with a pool, spa and fitness center for those residents.
