The steakhouse scene in downtown Cincinnati has experienced a shuffle with the closing of Morton's The Steakhouse, a fixture since 1991. After serving the downtown area for over three decades, the upscale establishment shut its doors this past week as its lease ended. A spokesperson for Morton's confirmed the closure, saying, "We value our hardworking employees and appreciate the community’s support over the years. Though this location has closed, we look forward to continuing to serve our loyal guests at our sister property, McCormick & Schmick’s in the Cincinnati area, as well as other Morton's locations nationwide," as reported by WLWT.
This is not an isolated incident, as the past year, 2024, proved challenging for many restaurants in Greater Cincinnati, including esteemed establishments. Confirming the tough climate, the Ohio Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance, in a statement, pointed out that, despite notable closures, "there's no data to suggest closures are happening at a higher rate than usual," emphasizing the resilience of the industry. This was further acknowledged in the WLWT coverage, highlighting that the area's restaurateurs are preparing to open dozens of new establishments in the coming year.
Former customers seeking to revisit Morton's on its website or via social platforms will find no reference to the Cincinnati location; it has been erased from its online presence. The once-prominent signage and interior elements have also been removed, signaling a definitive end. "The name "Morton's" was unceremoniously cut out of the awning of the Downtown steakhouse this week," as The Cincinnati Enquirer detailed.
Morton's was part of a broader collection of over 100 steakhouses that originated in Chicago in 1978 and was purchased in 2011 by Houston-based Landry's Inc., which also operates McCormick & Schmick's and the Chart House — both currently remaining open. The closure was notably abrupt, with the steakhouse quickly disappearing from the Landry's Select Club website and OpenTable ceasing to take reservations, as noted by Local12. As it stands, there has been no comment from Landry's Inc. concerning the closure.
While the downtown landscape changes, the Ohio Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance remains optimistic about the future of the local culinary scene, with anticipation of new ventures on the rise. The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce has not provided a statement on the matter as of this writing.
