Columbus hidden gem restaurant temporarily closes. Owner explains why

A midtown Columbus hidden gem restaurant temporarily has closed.

A handwritten sign at Midtown Cafe and Bakery, 2357 Warm Springs Road, went up this week, announcing the restaurant temporarily is closed. The note was signed by the owner, Perry Buck.

“I apologize for not being open,” the sign says. “I do not have enough people to properly operate at this time. We will reopen as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and patience.”

Buck told the Ledger-Enquirer that he feels disappointed that he had to close.

“We had some momentum, and I did let [customers] down,” he said, “but I’d rather let them down by closing [than] by [giving] some substandard service.”

Buck declined to elaborate on the staffing issues that caused the closing, but he described the fallout leading to a “necessary” closure.

“I don’t want to cast dispersions on anybody,” he said. “[The former employees] decided they wanted to do something else.”

Buck is trying to hire new employees. Although he is optimistic about reopening soon, he did not give an exact date.

“It’s too early in the process,” he said.