COLUMBUS, Ind. — A locally-owned restaurant with a focus on international cuisine has opened a new location after being closed for several months. Olesya’s Kitchen has reopened at 908 C 25th St.
“I’m so glad I have this place and the people coming to eat who like my food, who know my food,” said owner Olesya Whitfield. “Everybody welcome.”
The restaurant, which serves international dishes, had to vacate its previous building — located at 1531 McKinley Ave. — as the lot was purchased by Cummins, Inc. This location closed in the spring of 2022, and the new spot opened on Nov. 22.
Whitfield said that she loves the new location, which has brought in both new and old customers and is conveniently located near Columbus North High School.
One patron, Robert Toole, said he appreciates her cooking and added, “Really good mom-and-pop food is hard to find in Columbus.”
Whitfield expressed gratitude for the support that the community has shown during the relocation process. One of her friends and regulars, Lynn Marie Reese, created a GoFundMe campaign in January of 2022 to help the restaurant relocate. As of Dec. 2, the page had raised $9,260.
The campaign and other donations have been a “really big help,” said Whitfield. The funds have helped cover costs for the new building, such as hiring a plumber, an electrician and other contractors, though she’s had to borrow some money as well.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
