UNION TOWNSHIP — Swensons Drive-In has closed its Union Township restaurant, the Akron-based chain’s original Greater Cincinnati location, and merged it with its Oakley site.
The Union Township location opened in 2022. The manager of the Oakley restaurant said the two locations are combining, though details on how many employees will transfer were not available. She said Swensons is not giving up on Greater Cincinnati and plans to open more locations in the future, with more information expected soon.
Swensons was founded in Akron in 1934 and now has about 30 locations in Ohio. It is best known for the Galley Boy, a double burger served with two signature sauces and a pimento-stuffed olive on the bun, and for carhop-style drive-in service.
The chain has drawn attention nationally over the years, including from food writers who praised its onion rings, and it counts LeBron James among its well-known fans.
The closure also comes after a year in which some customers criticized changes on social media, including pre-sliced cheese replacing hand-sliced cheese and a different bun and toasting method than the chain traditionally used.
For Cincinnati-area customers, the Oakley location remains open, and the company says additional locations are part of its plans for the region.
