The historic Worthington Inn is set for new life under Wolf's Ridge Brewing, with a target opening of no later than late March 2026. The announcement generated considerable enthusiasm among City Council members at Monday's meeting.
A New Chapter for a Worthington Landmark
Councilmember Rebecca Hermann, who attended a Worthington Chamber luncheon where the brewery's owner spoke, shared details about the transition. The kitchen infrastructure is largely in place—the main work will be installing draft beer taps to accommodate Wolf's Ridge's craft beer offerings.
Hermann also noted that Wolf's Ridge owns Understory, a well-regarded restaurant, which heightened excitement about the quality of food and beverage offerings to come.
The new ownership of the inn property began with two Worthington women meeting over cocktails and a napkin to conceptualize the purchase. Kevin Rohyans, the city's economic development liaison, appeared pleased with how the transition has progressed.
Gratitude for the Showe Family
Councilmember David Robinson expressed enthusiasm for the reopening and took time to thank the Showe family for their decades of stewardship of the historic building.
Robinson noted that he has spoken with Kevin Showe about the inn's future for years, and that Showe tried very hard to find the right tenant and format during the challenging post-COVID climate for restaurants and event spaces. The family poured their hearts into the inn for decades before ultimately deciding it was appropriate to pass the baton to new operators.
Robinson acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, particularly given how the restaurant and event industry changed during and after COVID-19.
What's Next
The new restaurant will officially be called "Wolf's Ridge at Worthington Inn," with a target opening in spring 2026. Wolf's Ridge co-owner Bob Szuter set clear expectations at the Worthington Chamber luncheon: "If it's past the end of April, then I'll be upset."
Kristopher Ludwig, executive chef at Wolf's Ridge's downtown Columbus restaurant, will create the menu and run the kitchen in Worthington. The brewery is known for seasonal, elevated tavern-style fare including dishes like fish and chips, cider-braised pork, and fried chicken.
Updates on the renovation and opening timeline will be available on Wolf's Ridge Brewing's website and social media channels.