Whitehall Wendy's closes permanently

View a previous test of Wendy's Fresh AI at another Columbus location in the video player above.

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) – The Wendy’s at the intersection of E. Main Street and N. Hamilton closed yesterday. 

Signs posted at the property state the location is closed permanently, effective June 30, 2024. The restaurant also appears to be boarded up, according to photos posted to Whitehall Facebook groups. Later photos show Wendy's affiliated signs appear to have been removed.

Black Gate Partners commercial real estate company lists the 4595 E. Main St. property as available for new renters as soon as Sept. 1 of this year. 

The building was built in 1983, according to Black Gate, and offers 2,542 square feet within the building alone. The property also includes a drive through and parking, with the total property measuring 0.58 acres, according to the lease brochure. 

It is unclear why the location closed. The Franklin County Auditor lists the owner as Arc Cafe USA, who seemingly operated through a Columbus agent, the Corporation Service Company. However, representatives were not available to confirm why the location closed from either corporation. Wendy’s was also unable to be reached for confirmation.

A Black Gate representative said they were hired by owners to find a new tenant once Wendy's lease expired, but said he neither knew nor could speak to why the location was closing.

The most recent lease available for the property was a 2018 agreement between Wendy’s and Jam Restaurants, LLC. Jam Restaurants ceased operations in 2020, according to records from Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State. 

This location is just 2 miles from another Wendy's on E. Main St. that made headlines this year after a man was accused of climbing through the drive-through window and assaulting an employee on May 30.

The Franklin County Auditor’s 2023 appraisal of the property values it at $651,400. Black Gate's lease brochure offers negotiable rent rates for the property.