2 Tri-State Frisch's graduation; Additional locations could be closed through eviction negotiations

CINCINNATI – More than a dozen Frisch locations in the Tri-State could close as court records show multiple eviction cases have been 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 close permanently Thursday at 2 p.m. These probably won't be the only closures coming soon.

According to Hamilton County court documents, real estate firm NNN Reit first filed an eviction lawsuit against Frisch's in September because the company “failed to pay more than $4.5 million in rent” after initial payment demands in February. That hearing was postponed until Oct. 30 after Frisch's said it needed “additional time to review the filing and prepare a response thereto.”

NNN said in an Oct. 10 motion to postpone the eviction hearing that it had served 27 three-day notices to leave and filed 14 eviction notices in several southwest Ohio counties with more on the way.

According to court documents, both the Dixie Highway location in Middletown and the Columbus Avenue location in Lebanon were among the Frisch's NNNs against which an eviction lawsuit was filed.

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 Municipality

The court documents also state that the rent for Frisch's for October 2024 is $1.2 million, “regardless of whether Frisch's occupies 6 or 65 properties.”
Court documents in other Tri-State counties also show eviction filings against the West Plane Street location in Bethel, the State Route 28 location in Loveland and the N. High Street location in Hillsboro. The Journal-News also reported that eviction notices were also served for a Middletown location on Germantown Road and a location on Dixie Highway in Fairfield.

WCPO 9 visited one of Frisch's locations that was facing eviction to hear from customers and get their reactions to the news.

“I was very sad and wanted to come back,” said Frisch’s customer John Withrow.

“I just wish they would keep it open — it’s a Cincinnati thing,” said Joni Privett, another customer.

Every customer we spoke to told us that they grew up eating Frisch's and that when the local restaurant closes, they just have to move on.

“I used to go to Frisch's in Milford and that's where my dad taught me how to put a napkin on our lap, how to obey, you know, table manners and stuff,” Privett said. “It has always been something that we enjoy eating at, even when we travel and eat at the different Frisch's.”

WCPO reached out to attorneys on both sides of this case for comment but has not received a response at this time. The next court date in Hamilton County is scheduled for October 30.

This isn't the first time in a short period of time that a group of Frisch's locations in the Tri-State have closed. Frisch locations in Erlanger, Covington, North College Hill and Spring Grove Village all closed within a week in April.