PJ's Grill Closes to Make Way for Development
The restaurant at 15 E. Frambes Ave. has shuttered as developers expand plans for a large housing project nearby.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Dining Out
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PJ's Grill officially closed its long-standing restaurant location at 15 E. Frambes Ave. in October 2026. The site is now slated to become part of a larger apartment and retail development project currently under review in Columbus.
Why it matters
The closure signals the ongoing transformation of the area surrounding Ohio State University as developers consolidate parcels for high-density housing. The inclusion of the restaurant's site marks a significant expansion of the initial project footprint.
The proposed seven-story development near North High Street and East Woodruff Avenue includes 4,000 square feet of retail space. It will feature a total of 228 units and 866 beds, a footprint that now incorporates the site of the former restaurant.
The players
RPM Living
The real estate firm is the developer behind the proposed seven-story apartment and retail project.
University Impact District Review Board
This board is the municipal body currently reviewing the certificate of approval application for the development.
PJ's Grill
The restaurant was a local establishment located at 15 E. Frambes Ave. before its recent closure.
The details
The expansion of the project by RPM Living now covers buildings that were previously excluded from the design, including the property that housed PJ's Grill and Donatos Pizza. The city of Columbus has listed the certificate of approval application for the development as continued.
Timeline
January 2026: Ohio Staters apartments and a Dunkin Donuts were scheduled to close.
March 2026: The Little Bar was demolished for a housing development.
October 2026: PJ's Grill closed its location at 15 E. Frambes Ave.
Culture Shift
The closure reflects the ongoing redevelopment of the University Impact District as student housing density increases near the campus. This shift follows a trend of replacing long-standing local businesses with multi-story, mixed-use projects designed for the student population.
Residents and students who frequented the 15 E. Frambes Ave. area will no longer have access to the restaurant as the site transitions into a construction zone. The development promises new retail space, though the exact nature of these future businesses has yet to be finalized.
The takeaway
The demolition and closure of established businesses near campus underscores the rapid evolution of the neighborhood's residential capacity. Readers should anticipate further construction activity in the vicinity of North High Street as these large-scale housing projects proceed.
Further reading
For more on changes to the local food scene, check the Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lantern.
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