Subway ending its lease at The Commons, prepares to leave

A view of The Commons and the intersection of Fourth and Washington streets Columbus, Ind., Monday, March 16, 2020. To slow the spread of COVID-19, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered all bars and restaurants in Indiana to cease in-house dining and only serve customers via delivery or carry out. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

COLUMBUS, Ind. — After being closed for over a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a fast-food franchise is leaving The Commons.

Columbus Redevelopment Commission Attorney Stan Gamso said final documents regarding the closure of Subway at The Commons have been signed and fully executed.

The commission agreed in January to begin discussions to terminate or amend the restaurant’s lease at the request of George Estep, of Estep and Co., which owns the restaurant.

“One of the reasons that took so long to get done is that the Subway ‘mothership’ in Connecticut has to approve everything that goes on with their local franchisees,” Gamso said. “So we sent all the documents out to them.”

There were then some “back and forth” discussions with Subway about who should be listed as the contracting entity and owner, he said. This has since been resolved.