Taste of Belgium, a well-known regional restaurant chain, has recently announced the imminent closures of two locations in the Greater Cincinnati area. Effective September 3, both the Crestview Hills and Fields Ertel bistros have ceased operations, following the shuttering of three other restaurants several months prior. The closures were to quickly implement a decision reached after recognizing the venues were not performing to financial expectations.
The announcement, made via a social media post and reported by WLWT, included a thank-you note to the community, "Thanks to all who supported us during our time in the Crestview Hills and Mason communities. It has been our pleasure to serve you." The report also specified that while these locations have closed, the chain maintains a presence in Cincinnati with bistros in Over-The-Rhine, Rookwood, The Banks, and Findlay Market.
The closure was not the first indicator of Taste of Belgium's challenges. Previously, the restaurant had made headlines when it decided to re-open the Fields Ertel location after a previous closure and then close the Kenwood, Liberty Township, and Clifton venues, as noted by Cincinnati.com. The Fields Ertel restaurant originally opened in 2021 but failed to sustain its business until its initial and now final closure.
According to Cincinnati Business Journal, the closures are part of the company's restructuring strategy. "We truly appreciate the dedication of our Taste of Belgium team members and the continued patronage of our guests," the company stated. Unfortunately, over time, sales did not meet expectations at these bistros, and we made the difficult decision to close." This indicates a pattern of re-evaluation and strategic changes as the company continues to adapt to changing market conditions.
