Local restaurant featured on Guy Fieri's show is closing its doors for good

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A Corryville staple that was spotted at Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives closed its doors for good on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Throughout 2024, dozens of Cincinnati businesses have been placed in dire financial straits, forcing many to close their doors. For Island Frydays, it was soaring food prices that led to its demise.

Leo Morgan is the founder and owner of Island Fridaysa business he started to “share the food of my native Jamaica” in Cincinnati in 2009, he wrote.

Bearcats fans may remember hearing about the business owner in other ways as well. Morgan played football at the University of Cincinnati as a linebacker and team captain – just two years before opening Island Frydays.

From 2009 until December 17, 2024, the restaurant served people from all over, including Food Network star Guy Fieri. Island Fridays was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in the episodes titled “Takeout: All Over the Menu” and “Worldwide Flavorfest”.

But even with Fieri’s approval, the restaurant couldn’t keep up financially.

Morgan says he explored all options before making the difficult decision to close his doors, especially with the holidays approaching, but just couldn’t “keep it going.”

However, the company will continue to sell some of its seasonings online and may upload some recipes to YouTube, he wrote.

“I hope when you visited Island Frydays we gave you a little taste of paradise. Until we meet again, I send you and your families lots of love.

Island Frydays is not the first restaurant offering Diners, Drive-ins and Dives to go out of business in Cincinnati.

Virgil’s Café in Bellevue closed in 2015, followed by Senate Pub’s Over-the-Rhine location in 2021.

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