04/09/2026
Good afternoon, loyal patrons of The Met from Lima and the surrounding communities.
When we started construction in 2011 and opened as a wine bar with small plates in 2012, I neither expected nor planned that we would have gotten this big and able to be a part of so many memories for so many of our friends throughout the years.
We are grateful for those that started the journey before us: Kewpee, Alter Ego, The Meeting Place, Nitzas, just to name a few. The MacDonell family paved the way for downtown Lima’s growth. They saved this building, helped erect the YMCA and the VMCC. They mentored us in how to get things done, run things in communion with others, where to seek expert advice, create short and long term goals along with contingency and transition plans when the business model needs to pivot.
Many small businesses, the backbone of employment in our area, especially in hospitality, as good as they are, to stay afloat, must transition. That means, changing menus, updating decor, altering hospitality initiatives, deciding who you are going to be. We’ve been living in a dream world for almost a decade and a half. What a great ride it has been!
With that being said, The Met and this building will transition to different leadership and ownership. The Met as we know it, will close its doors for regular lunch and dinner service at the end of Saturday, April 25.
We are very proud of the run we have had. I tell our friends and employees, we don’t get to be rated the top restaurant in the region for almost a decade by accident. Those of us who made The Met our calling took on the responsibility of making people feel comfortable, seen and cared for. We embraced the responsibility of changing and enhancing the perspective of downtown Lima.
We have tremendous gratitude for everyone. Each day when we raised the blinds, watered the flowers and turned on the smoker, we brought a sense of hope, pride and desire for success for the city, county and region that supports us. It was always more than just a restaurant for us.
Thank you, MacDonell family for your support and guidance that got us here.
Thank you City of Lima and Allen County - for working with us through 7 renovations to get this place looking how it does.
Thank you G & B Contracting and Browns - building out and up keeping this 140 year old beauty we call The Met in tip top shape.
Thank you, Rube Gibson for curating our spaces with unmatched craftsmanship.
Thank you State of Ohio officials and Federal agencies for having tax credit programs that allow us to rehab buildings like these and employ countless people.
Thank you Huntington Bank for believing in us and backing our co-workers in their ability to have retirement, health insurance and opportunity to buy homes.
Thank you to our OG investors: Drs. Aggarwal and Patel, Dr. Farzin and Julie Fotouhi, Ellen Pugh and Bob Fitzgerald, Sally Duval & Marc Clark, Dr. Ann Gideon and Jim Gideon, and, my mom, the late Marge Nelson.
Thank you to Fred Barrington and DTL. Fred is like a father to me and guided me in the way of business.
Thank you, Liz, who ran this place with uncompromising style, charm, and care to each person that walked through our doors.
Thank you, Sue, my business partner and grandma who as our Financial officer kept us rolling so many years.
Thank you employees - the longest tenured, over a decade, Megan from Col Grove add Kelli from Shawnee. There have been 100s of you. We made this place everyone’s 3rd place.
To our friends, patrons, co-workers: Thank you for supporting us for all these years. You gave us meaning, hope, a sense of place, purpose and pride. I am forever grateful. Thank you Lima. Cheers to new beginnings!!!
Rob & Nicole Nelson
