Fast-casual Mediterranean chain Brassica has become a Columbus favorite, but a recent investment from Chipotle signals change on the horizon.

Why it matters: Brassica's owners acknowledge the investment might make local diners nervous, but hope to prove that continued growth won't sacrifice quality.

The big picture: Brassica opened its original Short North location in 2015 as the most recent venture from brothers Kevin and Darren Malhame, owners of Northstar Cafe and Third & Hollywood.

• Now, there are five more locations in Bexley, Easton and Upper Arlington, as well as Cleveland suburbs Shaker Heights and Westlake.

Driving the news: Chipotle announced the investment in October through its $100 million early-stage investment venture fund, Cultivate Next.

• Kevin Malhame declined to share with Axios the specific amount, but did say it was a minority investment.

Context: Brassica hopes to avoid the fate of Hot Chicken Takeover, another popular local chain that sold to an investment company in 2021 and subsequently faced "brutal" criticism, the Dispatch reports.

• Hot Chicken Takeover was sold again more recently and is now openly asking former fans to give it another shot.

What they're saying: When news of the investment broke, fans and skeptics alike shared concerns over Brassica's future in Columbus Reddit threads.

• "Please don't ruin Brassica!" and "RIP brassica" are the top two comments in one thread.
• "Over/under on the first 'Brassica doesn't taste the same' thread is 97.5 days," said another. "What ya got? I'm taking under."

The other side: Kevin Malhame can "completely understand" why Brassica fans might be worried, but says the chain doesn't plan to change.

• He also calls private equity money that can cause a business to decline "totally unappealing" to the brothers.
• "That story replays itself over and over and over again," he says. "It is the story of our industry: emerging brands that have something special end up on some sort of fast-growth trajectory with an outside investor, and the next time you know it's not worth eating at or it's lost its magic."

What's next

Hot Chicken Takeover's new ownership wants Columbus to "try the food like it's a new restaurant" — so we did.

• It pains us to say it, but the 2024 version is (still) not what it once was.

Flashback: HCT began in 2014 as a mission-driven pop-up window in Olde Towne East, later adding a food truck and its first brick-and-mortar location in the North Market.

• It doubled as a way for founder Joe DeLoss to help reintegrate employees convicted of felonies into their communities.
• DeLoss sold HCT in 2021 to investment company Untamed Brands, which sold the company this May to Craveworthy Brands, led by former Jimmy John's CEO Gregg Majewski.
• HCT has added standalone locations in Clintonville, Easton, Gahanna, Grandview, Lewis Center and Westerville.

🐔 When the first location opened, the menu was limited to fried chicken in four flavors, mac and cheese, cole slaw, banana pudding, tea and ranch.

The latest: The chain's recent rebrand focuses on "Southern flavor" and an expanded menu with a "fresh new look."

• Now, it has five flavors of chicken, sandwiches with black pepper relish and pimiento cheese, chicken fried steak, eight sides, three appetizers, a kids' menu, a salad, seven sauces and even more drinks and desserts.

Our take: It's an unwieldy menu unrecognizable to those who remember the early days.

• We tried tenders, drumsticks, mac and cheese, slaw, baked beans and fried pickles, and it was all … pretty mediocre.
• The chicken is fine, but not good enough to differentiate itself from the many other chicken spots.
• Everyone's favorite mac and cheese is gone — the new version went from "OK" to "gross" as it cooled.

Friction point: Extra sauces (ranch included) are 49 cents. Just make them free and unlimited again!

💭 Alissa's thought bubble: I was overwhelmed when I walked in and saw the expanded menu. I think focusing on doing one thing well appeals to people for the simplicity — like Just Chicken, which I recently reviewed.

Knowledge is power, and we believe in empowering our community through reliable, local journalism. 

Join our membership program for just $50+ a year, and you can support our efforts to keep you in the know of what's happening around town.

• You'll get insider notes and other perks as a thanks.

Together, we can ensure our neighbors stay informed.

These were the perfect conditions to end a rivalry losing streak: A home game against a lackluster Wolverines squad with a trip to the conference championship on the line. 

• And still, defeat. 

State of play: Saturday's 13-10 loss was followed by a minor on-field brawl spurred by Wolverines planting the M flag at midfield.

• A few Buckeye players didn't react kindly, nor did campus police, who used pepper spray to break up the mayhem. 

Reality check: The loss — OSU's fourth in a row to TTUN — fuels longstanding criticism that head coach Ryan Day racks up easy victories with a talented roster, but can't win the "big games."

• Fans might clamor for change, but it's hard to imagine a coach with a .868 winning percentage being in the hot seat.

Worth remembering: The Buckeyes are likely still headed to the expanded College Football Playoff. The final list will be announced Sunday. 

• OSU beat Michigan eight times in a row before this ignominious streak. Stuff happens. 

Yes, but: People don't follow football, especially not college football, to gain perspective.

• With OSU's roster, NIL advantages and team history, it's win or else.

Lately, it's been a lot of "else."

🌷 Denison University groundskeepers overcome bad weather, fungi and plant-loving deer to keep the campus beautiful. (Denisonian)

🤖 Kenyon College is weighing new AI usage policies after some students were caught plagiarizing. (Kenyon Collegian) 

💊 An international student group is working to make live-saving medicine more affordable, like a blood cancer drug developed by OSU researchers. (Lantern)