The long-running MCL Restaurant & Bakery in Whitehall is preparing for its final service next Sunday, March 29, closing out more than 50 years of cafeteria-style comfort for the neighborhood. Regulars got the news from a handwritten note taped to the front door, where the chain thanked customers for decades of support.
The Whitehall location at 5240 E. Main St. will have its last day of business next Sunday, according to Columbus Underground. That report notes the door message read, “It has been a pleasure serving the Whitehall community for over 50 years.”
Closures across the chain
The Whitehall shutdown is part of a broader round of closures for the family-owned chain, with locations in Muncie, Terre Haute and Indianapolis all going dark in recent weeks, the Tribune-Star reported. Local patrons told that outlet they were surprised and saddened as the company trims its footprint.
What remains in Columbus
Once the Whitehall doors lock for the last time, MCL will be down to a single Columbus-area outpost at Kingsdale in Upper Arlington, along with other locations in Ohio and Indiana, per the chain’s website. The site also lists the Whitehall hours and highlights the chain’s scratch-kitchen menu and history dating to 1950; see the full locations and hours on the MCL website.
In a Facebook comment shared on its official page, the company said the Whitehall restaurant “was not making enough money to cover operating costs,” Columbus Underground reported. Customers planning a final visit should know the Whitehall location will remain open through next Sunday during its posted hours.
