Republic file photo An exterior view of Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth Pizza and Pasta in The Commons in downtown Columbus.
Columbus Redevelopment Commission officials are hoping to have a new tenant at The Commons soon.
“We’ve received several inquiries on the former Bucceto’s vacant space,” said Redevelopment Director Heather Pope. “However, at this time, we are currently in lease negotiations with an interested tenant and hope to have some formalized commitment in the coming weeks.”
Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth Pizza and Pasta gave notice to the city in January that it did not intend to renew its lease at The Commons. At the time, Pope said that owner Paul Heilbrunn has had health issues and was not able to keep the location open in addition to his two branches in Bloomington.
The space in question was previously a Puccini’s Smiling Teeth and reopened as a Bucceto’s in the spring of 2018 under Heilbrunn’s management. The two brands are sister operations.
According to its social media, the Bucceto’s at The Commons closed in May.
Bucceto’s is not the first eatery to leave The Commons in recent years.
Subway, which was located inside the event center’s food court, left in July 2021 after being closed for several months amid the pandemic.
When asked if there has been progress with leasing the former Subway space, Pope replied, “Unfortunately, no. The one person we had been in conversation with had a financing partner back out so they are no longer talking with us right now. Nothing else has come forward.”
