The Jury Room will close today at 5pm, but only for a short while. The Columbus Food League announced today that it has sold the restaurant to a new owner, who plans to reopen the restaurant within the next two weeks.

Columbus Food League founder and owner Elizabeth Lessner made the announcement public today, coinciding with an additional announcement that she is partnering on a new produce farm venture located in California.

“I moved to Columbus in 1996 from San Francisco, California and fell in love with this City,” said Lessner. “I have thoroughly enjoyed herding my restaurant cats here in Columbus for the past 15 years. I’m eager to return to California and focus on growing food for restaurants and exploring the behind-the-scenes wholesale side of operations while keeping a hand in my beloved Columbus community and my other restaurant concepts.”

The Columbus Food League re-opened The Jury Room in 2010, continuing the legacy of the 184-year-old establishment, which is one of the oldest restaurant and bar venues in the City of Columbus. The Columbus Food League also closed Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits in July, and officially opened The Chintz Room last week.

For more information on The Jury Room, visit www.juryroomcolumbus.com.