Delivery-only restaurants rose in prominence during the coronavirus pandemic as patrons became increasingly wary of in-person dining and ate more meals at home.
But these so-called cloud kitchens or ghost kitchens predate the pandemic by several years, and industry experts and restaurateurs think they have the potential to outlast it.
Cloud kitchens appeal to prospective restaurant owners thanks to low overhead costs, and they provide the freedom to experiment with new concepts.
“People have different definitions of ghost kitchen,” said Mark Kelnhofer, president and CEO of Return on Ingredients in Westerville and a lecturer for Ohio State University’s hospitality management program. “But they have to have a small footprint, where you are manufacturing the menu items at one location, and it allows for pick up and delivery but eliminates the front-of-house component.”
More than 48 hours after shots were fired inside the emergency room of a Westerville hospital, Columbus police identified two officers who had discharged their weapons and body camera footage of the incident was released.
Miles Jackson, 27, of Columbus Northwest Side, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with officers at Mount Carmel St. Ann s medical center. Columbus police on Wednesday afternoon identified officers Andrew Howe and Ryan Krichbaum, both 15-year veterans, as officers who were involved in the shooting.
Westerville police Chief Charles Chandler said Monday that at least one St. Ann s security officer also had fired a weapon. St. Ann s has refused to identify any of its four officers involved in the incident, citing privacy and the ongoing investigation into the shooting being led by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.