The former home of Harold's American Grille in Old Worthington wasn't empty long and its new tenant is nearly ready to open its doors.
The Half Pint, a spinoff of the Pint Room, is expected to open at 671 High St. in June.
Worthington's Half Pint will be the third location of its kind, following locations in Marysville and Columbus' Arena District.
It will serve as "essentially half of a Pint Room" location, according to Shelly Post, director of operations for the parent company, the Pint Room Group.
The group also owns three full Pint House locations, including the original in Dublin and locations in Carmel, Indiana, and Littleton, Colorado.
"We try to say (the Half Pint) is a little quicker, but you can still sit and hang out and have a couple beers," she said. "And you can still make it in and out for a half-hour lunch break if need be."
Post said the Half Pint locations have about half the number of beer taps as the Pint Rooms, which have 100 to 175. She said they have an abbreviated food menu of about 25 food items "from the Pint Room menu."
Post said the availability of the Worthington space "came as a surprise" but the group thought it would be "a perfect fit."
"We weren't actually looking in Worthington," she said, "but it just came up, so we jumped on it as soon as we could."
Harold's American Grille closed at the start of 2018.
Annina Parini, executive director of the Old Worthington Partnership, said the organization was "thrilled" to have Half Pint in town. She said she sees it as a good fit.
"We believe that their mix of upscale pub food and many craft beer choices in a relaxed atmosphere is a perfect fit for our neighborhood," she said. "Their proven concept will do well in our historic district, and we can't wait for their opening in a few weeks."
Post said Worthington is considered by the company as a perfect location for its Half Pint concept.
"We like being in areas that have that walking community and that small-town feel but that aren't a small town," she said. "With the downtown Worthington area, it reminds us a lot of the Marysville uptown or our Carmel location, that quaint downtown area that gives the population somewhere to go rather than going to downtown (Columbus) or elsewhere."
Although a specific opening date has yet to be determined, Post said, the company "tentatively" is targeting an opening the week of June 14.
She said the Half Pint's social-media accounts would post an updated opening day when it's decided to "make sure the community is aware."
More details are available on the Half Pint Worthington Facebook page.
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