Friday Food Bites: Hoster Brewing, Outerbelt Brewing closing; Fat Arnie’s Provecho opening

Happy Friday! Here’s the latest Columbus restaurant news:

• This week Hoster Brewing announced that it will be closing up its operations on North James Road after Oct. 31. Hoster is one of Columbus’ oldest legacy breweries; it had been dormant for about 20 years before new owners opened a taproom on the east side back in 2024.
• In other brewing news Outerbelt Brewing in Carroll announced that they will be closing on Oct. 5.
• Multiple outlets reported this week that Mozart’s Cafe in Clintonville will close on Dec. 24 of this year after more than 30 years in business, as owners Doris and Anand Saha will be retiring. (You can see photos from their old location in my 2012 post.)
• The Enchantea tea shop opens after a revamp this Friday, Sept. 25. It’s located at 811 Bethel Rd.
• As I mentioned last week, the new daytime cafe by Park Service Coffee officially opens inside Metsi’s on Friday, Sept. 25.
• Fat Arnie’s Sandwich Shop announced that their new companion shop, Fat Arnie’s Provecho, will open at 20 S. State St. in Uptown Westerville on Thursday, Oct. 1.
• There are two new pizza options in the Short North! Black Pony Pizza just opened at 1001 N. High St., selling Detroit-style pies. And following shortly on Pie of the Tiger’s exit from the Short North Tavern, a new pizza shop called Sunday Gravy is opening up there, serving sandwiches, apps, and Roman-style pizzas.
• A couple more local businesses have been nominated in USA Today’s 10 Best voting: Royal Flamingo Coffee for Best Independent Coffee Shop and Smoked on High for Best Texas-Style BBQ. Vote for them daily here!

Some cool culinary events!

• This Friday, Sept. 25, Little West Tavern at The Junto Hotel brings back its Campus Cookoff burger battle tied to each Ohio State home game this season.
• And this Sunday, Sept. 27 is Cold Beer + Hot Coals, an Oktoberfest-style event featuring beer and bratwurst that benefits the Dominion Middle School PTSO.
• Ohio Pint Day is coming up next week Tuesday, Sept. 29! At least 170 Ohio breweries will be selling specially designed, limited edition pint glasses. $1 from each point supports the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.
• The Halloween-themed Black Lagoon cocktail pop-up returns next week Wednesday, Sept. 30 to The Citizens Trust.

This week I’m also writing:

You can also me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, read my guide to Columbus, or search for travel inspiration.