Old Bag of Nails Pub to Close Downtown Delaware Location After Oct. 11
The 22-year-old Sandusky Street staple cited a lease dispute with its landlord as the 6,600-square-foot building is listed for $1.9 million.

The Old Bag of Nails Pub will permanently close its downtown Delaware restaurant after Sunday, Oct. 11, ending a 22-year presence on Sandusky Street after failing to negotiate a long-term lease agreement with its landlord.
The pub chain announced the upcoming closure in a social media message to patrons on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Located at 66 N. Sandusky St., the downtown dining staple first opened in 2004.
"It’s with a heavy heart we announce that our last day open in Downtown Delaware will be Sunday October 11th. We are unable to reach a long-term agreement with the landlord that would allow us to continue operations," ownership stated in the announcement.
The departure coincides with the commercial property being placed on the market. The more than 6,600-square-foot building housing the pub is listed for sale at $1.9 million. At more than 6,600 square feet, the downtown Delaware site is approximately twice the size of the pub's typical footprint, with other locations in the chain averaging roughly 4,000 square feet and seating about 150 guests across their dining rooms, bars and patios.
In the closure post, the business thanked the community and encouraged diners to stop in before Sunday's final service to support the restaurant's staff. Ownership also left the door open to returning to Delaware down the road, writing, "Should an opportunity present itself for an Old Bag of Nails Pub in Delaware in the future, we would be happy to return."
The pub chain traces its beginnings to 1996, when founders Michael and Tara Purdum converted part of a former hardware store in Worthington into a neighborhood tavern. The menu originally featured burgers, chicken wings and salads before the founders added fish and chips, which quickly grew into the chain's signature dish.
Even as the Delaware dining room prepares to shut down after Sunday, Oct. 11, Old Bag of Nails continues to maintain 11 Central Ohio locations. Its regional footprint includes establishments in Bexley, Hilliard, Marysville, Newark, Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington.
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The Old Bag of Nails Pub will permanently close its downtown Delaware restaurant after Sunday, Oct. 11, ending a 22-year presence on Sandusky Street after failing to negotiate a long-term lease agreement with its landlord.
The pub chain announced the upcoming closure in a social media message to patrons on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Located at 66 N. Sandusky St., the downtown dining staple first opened in 2004.
"It’s with a heavy heart we announce that our last day open in Downtown Delaware will be Sunday October 11th. We are unable to reach a long-term agreement with the landlord that would allow us to continue operations," ownership stated in the announcement.
The departure coincides with the commercial property being placed on the market. The more than 6,600-square-foot building housing the pub is listed for sale at $1.9 million. At more than 6,600 square feet, the downtown Delaware site is approximately twice the size of the pub's typical footprint, with other locations in the chain averaging roughly 4,000 square feet and seating about 150 guests across their dining rooms, bars and patios.
In the closure post, the business thanked the community and encouraged diners to stop in before Sunday's final service to support the restaurant's staff. Ownership also left the door open to returning to Delaware down the road, writing, "Should an opportunity present itself for an Old Bag of Nails Pub in Delaware in the future, we would be happy to return."
The pub chain traces its beginnings to 1996, when founders Michael and Tara Purdum converted part of a former hardware store in Worthington into a neighborhood tavern. The menu originally featured burgers, chicken wings and salads before the founders added fish and chips, which quickly grew into the chain's signature dish.
Even as the Delaware dining room prepares to shut down after Sunday, Oct. 11, Old Bag of Nails continues to maintain 11 Central Ohio locations. Its regional footprint includes establishments in Bexley, Hilliard, Marysville, Newark, Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (7)
The Old Bag of Nails Pub will permanently close its downtown Delaware restaurant after Sunday, Oct. 11, ending a 22-year presence on Sandusky Street after failing to negotiate a long-term lease agreement with its landlord.
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According to a social media post from the Old Bag of Nails Pub, the eatery’s Delaware restaurant–which is located at 66 N. Sandusky St.– will close later this week.
The pub chain announced the upcoming closure in a social media message to patrons on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
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According to a social media post from the Old Bag of Nails Pub, the eatery’s Delaware restaurant–which is located at 66 N. Sandusky St.– will close later this week.
Located at 66 N.
Read supporting passage
According to a social media post from the Old Bag of Nails Pub, the eatery’s Delaware restaurant–which is located at 66 N. Sandusky St.– will close later this week.
We are unable to reach a long-term agreement with the landlord that would allow us to continue operations," ownership stated in the announcement.
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“It’s with a heavy heart we announce that our last day open in Downtown Delaware will be Sunday October 11th. We are unable to reach a long-term agreement with the landlord that would allow us to continue operations,” the post reads.
In the closure post, the business thanked the community and encouraged diners to stop in before Sunday's final service to support the restaurant's staff.
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“We would love for the community to pay a visit this week and support the wonderful staff,” the restaurant’s post reads. “Should an opportunity present itself for an Old Bag of Nails Pub in Delaware in the future, we would be happy to return.”
Even as the Delaware dining room prepares to shut down after Sunday, Oct. 11, Old Bag of Nails continues to maintain 11 Central Ohio locations.
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Old Bag of Nails operates 11 Central Ohio locations.
Retained video evidence
Supporting evidence (7)
Sandusky St., the downtown dining staple first opened in 2004.
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The announcement caps a run that began in 2004, when the pub opened in the Delaware building, according to the Lexington Herald Leader, citing reporting from The Columbus Dispatch.
The more than 6,600-square-foot building housing the pub is listed for sale at $1.9 million.
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The timing lines up with a real estate listing: the more than 6,600-square-foot building currently leased to Old Bag of Nails is on the market for $1.9 million, according to NBC4.
At more than 6,600 square feet, the downtown Delaware site is approximately twice the size of the pub's typical footprint, with other locations in the chain averaging roughly 4,000 square feet and seating about 150 guests across their dining rooms, bars and patios.
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That same report noted the Delaware restaurant was about twice the size of the chain's typical spot, with other locations running around 4,000 square feet and seating roughly 75 in the dining room and another 75 at the bar and patio.
The pub chain traces its beginnings to 1996, when founders Michael and Tara Purdum converted part of a former hardware store in Worthington into a neighborhood tavern.
Read supporting passage
Michael and Tara Purdum opened the first restaurant in 1996 in Worthington, Ohio, converting part of the former Zettler hardware store into a neighborhood pub, according to the Herald Leader.
The menu originally featured burgers, chicken wings and salads before the founders added fish and chips, which quickly grew into the chain's signature dish.
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The concept started small, with burgers, chicken wings and salad on the menu, before fish and chips was added a few months later and became the chain's signature dish, Michael Purdum told The Columbus Dispatch.
Its regional footprint includes establishments in Bexley, Hilliard, Marysville, Newark, Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington.
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with Central Ohio restaurants in Bexley, Hilliard, Marysville, Newark, Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington, per the Herald Leader's reporting.
Retained video evidence
Old Bag of Nails owners announce closure of downtown Delaware location
Supporting evidence (1)
Retained video evidence
Old Bag of Nails Pub in Delaware to close after 22 years of business
Supporting evidence (1)
Retained video evidence