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.
Redevelopment Director Heather Pope said that she spoke to the facility manager, and Subway has agreed to move all of its equipment and other items out of the space by the end of the month.
The restaurant closed its doors in March 2020 due to The Commons closing amid the pandemic. The Commons remains largely closed to the public with the exception of rental events, and its two interior restaurant tenants, Subway and Orange Leaf, have been unable to reopen due to having no exterior entrances.
Both businesses have received a 100% rent abatement since April 2020, which will continue until The Commons reopens. However, city officials have said that other expenses still remain.
