Why does it feel like so many Cincinnati restaurants close?
UC study cited in reports on recent closures
It doesn't just feel like a lot of restaurants end up shuttered — they usually do.
Recent University of Cincinnati research shows that keeping a restaurant afloat in the Queen City is a daunting task.
WLWT and the Cincinnati Enquirer cited the study in covering recent restaurant closures in the city.
Led by UC doctoral candidate Hannah Dahlke, the study found that about 60% of the city’s restaurants opened between 2008 and 2023 ended up closed.
"Our focus was really on external factors," Dahlke told WLWT. "We found that, out of all the characteristics we looked at, density and crime are the two factors that can best explain restaurant closures."
Dahlke found a spike in closures after the Great Recession and the global pandemic. Graphic/Hannah Dahlke
The economy doesn't help
Location is only part of the story. WLWT also spoke with UC Lindner College of Business economics professor David Brasington to see what’s causing these closures in 2026.
"Costs have gone up for them to deliver, labor costs and material costs both," Brasington told WLWT. "And rent costs haven't really gone down either."
And with consumer spending less overall, Brasington said that many independently owned restaurants are finding it harder and harder to keep customers coming. That leaves an already tight profit margin even smaller.
But Dahlke stressed that local restaurants are important as they help define neighborhoods, create community gathering places and contribute to Cincinnati’s identity. She told WLWT that she hopes her research can help contribute to local business’ success.
Cincinnati is our city
Cincinnati is our extended classroom, lab, career network and a place to explore, learn and serve. UC’s urban location gives students unmatched access to real-world learning, artistic inspiration and vibrant culture. Our research and community engagement continually benefit the city we call home.
Featured image at top of people eating at a restaurant. Photo/Unsplash/Alex Haney
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