The Buckeye Hall of Fame Café opened in 1997 on Olentangy River Road. The 50,000-square-foot Buckeye Hall of Fame Café, which opened in 1997, was the largest theme restaurant in Ohio at the time. Its concept was like a Planet Hollywood or a Hard Rock Café, with lots of memorabilia and other eye candy. It billed itself as an “entertainment complex,” a destination not just for a meal, but for an experience. Visitors could see one of Archie Griffin’s Heisman trophies on display, watch sports on 40 televisions, play electronic shuffleboard and browse in a gift shop. The 12,000-square-foot Las Vegas-like video game room was a focal point. Customers mingle at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café in 2006. Its location, 1421 Olentangy River Road, had been the site of the Jai Lai restaurant. This legendary Columbus spot was known for its prime rib and salt rolls, not to mention being…
Continue Reading: Buckeye Hall of Fame Café was sports bar central
