The popular comfort food chain I Heart Mac & Cheese is set to permanently close its College Hill location shortly before reaching its first anniversary. The Tri-State area restaurant at 1620 W. North Bend Road will cease operations after October 20, as announced on the business's Instagram page. According to an article by Local12, this marks the end of the franchise's stint in the newly developed HaNoBe at Linden Square, a project valued at $30 million.
In a post expressing gratitude to their supporters, the restaurant remarked, "We are grateful to all who have support4ed us, especially the folks at Luminary and Just Q'in who have been so generous with their friendship, encouragement and expertise," a sentiment documented by WCPO. It was also revealed that a planned second location in Deer Park did not materialize, as references have been removed from the company's website. This closure follows in the wake of another College Hill eatery, The Sleepy Bee Cafe, that shut its doors earlier in the year after less than two years in operation.
Co-owners Thang Vo, a former data scientist, and Namthu Nguyen, a former New York City business operations professional, embarked on this venture with a menu that includes customizable macaroni and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches. Vo had previously encountered hurdles such as permit issues, which delayed the original opening planned for June 2023, a challenge he disclosed in an interview with the Cincinnati Business Courier.
