Biscuit Belly, a Louisville-founded restaurant chain, is preparing to open its first Columbus location next month, bringing its Southern-inspired “craft casual” concept to the Grandview area.
The restaurant will open at 1417 W. 5th Ave. on June 2, with a weekend of opening celebrations set to begin June 6, marking location No. 15 for the growing brand.
Founded in 2019 by Chad and Lauren Coulter, Biscuit Belly has expanded rapidly across the U.S., with at least seven additional locations currently in development.
While speaking with WhatNow Columbus, co-founder Lauren Coulter, shared that the Columbus location will feature unique elements, including a mural wall and a special drink.
Coulter also touched on why they chose the Grandview area, as she described the place as a growing and evolving community that still maintains a deep connection to its history, saying the location felt like the right fit for the business.
“It’s a really cool spot, and we think it’s going to continue to grow to become an even more dynamic area,” Coulter told What Now Columbus.
The entrepreneur also highlighted the strong sense of history tied to the space, noting that previous operators reached out to her after learning about the new business plans. According to Coulter, a business had reportedly operated in the location for nearly 80 years, something she said reflects the community’s attachment to the area.
“I just feel like people have a special place in their heart for Grandview,” she said. “It definitely confirms it’s a place we want to be and a place that feels like home to us.”
Coulter went on to share that the business plans to incorporate several Columbus-inspired elements into the new location, including custom artwork and a locally themed beverage designed to connect with the community.
“One of our signature things is a mural wall,” Coulter told the publication, explaining that the company is creating a fun mural unique to the area as part of the space’s design.
The businesswoman also revealed that the business recently introduced a new drink called “The Buckeye” in celebration of its expansion into Columbus.
“We thought, ‘Hey, we’re heading to Columbus. Let’s bring a little piece of that to Biscovelli as a whole,” Coulter said, adding that the team is excited for customers to enjoy a drink created in honour of the city.
Coulter said Biscuit Belly separates itself from other fast-casual breakfast concepts through its focus on high-quality ingredients and made-to-order meals.
“I think the food quality that we use is extremely high. We have real food. Everything is cooked to order, and it is just so delicious.”
The entrepreneur explained that the brand prioritizes fresh preparation over mass-produced fast-food methods, noting that the restaurant uses handmade ingredients and carefully prepared menu items to create what she described as a more elevated dining experience.
“We even make our own jelly, our own berry jam in-house,” Coulter said. “That just shows the time and effort that we put into making sure this is an elevated experience.”
According to Coulter, the timing of the expansion is strategic, allowing the brand to maintain quality and hands-on oversight as it continues to grow. Coulter expressed excitement about the brand’s future growth and suggested there could be more developments ahead for the company.
“We’ll do,” Coulter said after being asked to share any future projects in the pipeline, hinting that more announcements could follow as the brand continues expanding.
The menu highlights Southern-inspired dishes, including biscuit sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, lunch plates, coffee, and breakfast cocktails. Popular items include the Mama’s Boy biscuit sandwich and the Boozy Bird, which features fried chicken with bourbon maple syrup and an optional bourbon shot served with a keepsake glass.
While biscuits are central to the menu, non-biscuit options are also available.
The Grandview-area space has seen several previous concepts, including Hot Chicken Takeover, Sweet Carrot, and historically Rife’s Market, which occupied the building for nearly 80 years, and now Biscuit Belly is set to be in the mix.
