Meow Bao in Highland Square closes: Owners spread thin with new Square Scullery opening
A month after rebranding their tiny Highland Square restaurant from Square Scullery to Meow Bao, owners Matt and Heather Ulichney have announced they've closed the ramen and bao bar at 783 W. Market St.
The announcement came on Instagram Friday as the Ulichneys are in their final stages of opening their new, much larger Square Scullery location in North Hill, which they procured last January and had been renovating since.
In a follow up post Tuesday, the owners said they were never able to fully bounce back from a burst pipe last Christmas in their Highland Square restaurant that resulted in flooding. The water damage shut down the original Square Scullery location for four months before the eatery reopened in March with a new concept, as a pop-up ramen and bao bar.
"As if surviving and navigating covid for two years hadn't been enough as a small business, but then to get slammed with a pipe burst/kitchen flood last Christmas and being forced out of business for 4 months was absolutely devastating. We were just not ever fully able to bounce back from it, especially in the midst of a self funded DIY build for our new Scullery location," Tuesday's post read.
The owners, who had operated at the Highland Square location for five years, said it was a difficult decision to not reopen Meow Bao Dec. 27 after Christmas, but they were spread too thin. Meow Bao's last day of operation was Dec. 23.
"We have to be realistic about our abilities, financials, limitations and time with the opening of Scullery barreling around the corner" in North Hill, they posted Tuesday.
The Ulichneys had rebranded their Highland Square eatery as Meow Bao Nov. 29, with a new name and cat theme. Square Scullery in North Hill, which hosted a New Year's Eve dinner and is booking private events, is planning a grand opening for Feb 1. Reservations will open in about two weeks, when menus also will be released. Hours will be 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Meow Bao closes in Akron's Highland Square one month after rebranding
