After 28 years as a familiar face on High Street, Lemongrass Asian Bistro is calling it a day in the Short North. The family-run favorite is planning one last farewell service this Sunday, with the longtime dining room set to reopen later this summer under a new concept. Regulars have spent decades packing the space for its Asian American fusion menu and its prime spot in the Gallery Hop mix.
As reported by ABC6/WSYX, Lemongrass will serve its final meals on Sunday, June 28, before the owners flip the space into a new venture called Penthouse Social Club in August. According to the station, the new spot is expected to operate as a full-scale restaurant and an upscale, full-service nightclub, and the current Lemongrass staff are slated to shift over to the revamped operation.
Local directories, including the Short North Arts District, and the restaurant's own materials list the address as 641 North High Street. Community guides place the restaurant's beginnings in the late 1990s, with many noting 1998 as the opening year, per Step Out Columbus.
What is next at 641 North High
According to ABC6/WSYX, Penthouse Social Club plans to pair nightly entertainment with a full dinner menu and is targeting an August opening. Owners told the station they intend to bring the existing Lemongrass team into the new concept, although specific details on construction and permitting timelines have not been shared.
How Lemongrass shaped the Short North
For decades, Lemongrass helped usher Pan Asian and fusion flavors onto High Street, becoming a go-to stop for sushi, curries, and late-night drinks. It carved out a loyal following as part of the neighborhood's Gallery Hop scene, where art walks and dining helped define the district's reputation. The Short North Arts District notes that the corridor has changed dramatically since the 1990s as galleries, bars, and new restaurant concepts stacked up along High Street, making this latest transition one more chapter in a long-running story of neighborhood reinvention.
For the latest details on hours, final service plans, and farewell events, check the restaurant's Instagram announcement or visit the Lemongrass website. The Instagram post includes the owners' closing message and up-to-date information on staff plans and the final weekend of service.
