CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Three more Frisch’s restaurants in Clermont County are on the brink of closure as the homegrown chain grapples with ongoing legal and financial challenges.

The closures could be part of a larger trend, with as many as 65 Frisch locations in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton areas potentially suffering the same fate.

“Based on the court’s review of the evidence and undisputed testimony, the plaintiff is granted restitution of the property described in the complaint,” said Magistrate Matthew Graber of the Clermont County Municipal Court.

The ruling allows NNN REIT, a real estate investment trust, to immediately close Frisch’s locations — one in Loveland and the other in Bethel. In addition, NNN applied for an eviction for the Frisch’s in Batavia on Tuesday.

In 2015, the buildings and land for 73 Frisch’s restaurants were sold to NNN, with Frisch’s Inc. rented back the properties to continue operations. Eight have recently been sold. However, court documents show that Frisch’s Inc. in April, monthly rent payments of $1.2 million for the remaining 65 restaurants began to fall behind.

NNN alleged that Frisch’s Inc. now owes $4.5 million in back rent and has begun filing eviction notices for a growing number of locations.

Bill Rowland, a fan of Frisch, expressed his disappointment at the recent developments.

“It’s sad. It sounds like a hedge fund robbery. They have good food there and good employees. So I hope they end up on the ground somewhere,” Rowland said.

The situation remains uncertain as Tuesday’s ruling remained unchallenged and no representatives from Frisch’s Inc. were present at the hearing. There are currently 18 sites in the Frisch area in some stage of expansion, while plans for the remaining 47 owned by NNN remain unclear.

Both NNN and Frisch’s Inc. did not respond to requests for comment.

Restaurants to be heard on 10/30/24 in Hamilton County:

• 4227 Bridgetown Road – Cheviot
• 4765 Montgomery Road – Norwood
• 5202 Delhi Pike – Delhi
• 9070 Plainfield – Blue Ash
• 9830 Colerainlaan – Colerain
• 12150 Mason Montgomery – Symmes Twp.

Restaurants to be heard on 11/06/24 in Hamilton County:

• 7706 Beechmont Ave. –Anderson Twp.
• 5351 North Bend Road – Monfort Heights
• 1181 Stone Drive – Harrison
• 11990 Chase Plaza – Forest Park

Other eviction hearings scheduled outside Hamilton County:

• 1800 Germantown Road – Middletown
• 1285 North Main Street – Hillsboro
• 6638 Dixie Hwy. -Fairfield
• 2192 Wijnmolenlaan – Batavia

Two in Lebanon and Franklin have already been deported.