Some new eating places in Higher Cincinnati seeing success amid pandemic struggles

North High Brewing in Hyde Park Square officially opened its doors last Friday. The successful turnout amid a pandemic was just a surprise and the number of applications was another. “Our people are very small and the number of applicants we have received has been overwhelming, so it was very difficult to select the people we chose,” said General Manager Ryan Peirce. A sign of the times, well over 100 applications for this company with 13 employees. “There are people who have been laid off all across Cincinnati, not even in the restaurant industry, who have applied and I have even hired some of them,” said Peirce. The pandemic has ravaged the restaurant community for almost a year. According to preliminary data from the Department of Labor and Family Services, the leisure and hospitality industry in Ohio lost 9,200 jobs in December and approximately 125,000 last year. Like North High Brewing, Lucy Blue Pizza is new to Anderson Township and only opened three weeks ago. Owner Jim Thompson is happy Governor Dewine recently postponed the curfew to 11 a.m. “My business is based on the late night,” Thompson said. Like so many stores, it had to close its two downtown locations when the pandemic first emerged. He finds more success in the suburbs. “I knew there were lots of families out here in Anderson,” Thompson said. “We’ve had great success with people calling and picking up food. That exceeded our expectations.”

CINCINNATI –

North High Brewing in Hyde Park Square officially opened last Friday.

The successful turnout amid a pandemic was just a surprise and the number of applications was another.

“Our staff is very small and the number of applicants was overwhelming, so it was very difficult to select the staff we selected,” said General Manager Ryan Peirce.

A sign of the times, well over 100 applications for this company with 13 employees.

“There are people who have been laid off all over Cincinnati, not even in the restaurant industry, who have applied, and I’ve even hired some of them,” said Peirce.

The pandemic has ravaged the restaurant community for almost a year.

According to preliminary data from the Department of Labor and Family Services, the Ohio recreational and hospitality industry lost 9,200 jobs in December and around 125,000 last year.

Like North High Brewing, Lucy Blue Pizza is new to Anderson Township and only opened three weeks ago.

Owner Jim Thompson is happy Governor. Dewine recently moved the curfew to 11 a.m.

“My business is based on the late night,” Thompson said.

Like so many companies, it had to close its two downtown locations when the pandemic first hit. He finds more success in the suburbs.

“I knew there were lots of families out here in Anderson,” Thompson said. “We’ve had great success with people calling and picking up food. That exceeded our expectations.”