Westerville Drive-Thru Remains Open As Ray Ray’s Enters Chapter 11 Reorganization

Ray Ray’s Hog Pit reports that its Westerville drive-thru is open and running normally, along with its other main locations, as the Central Ohio barbecue company undergoes a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

Ray Ray’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Dec. 19 through its two operating entities, Leroy's Meats LLC and Smoke Ring LLC, after a difficult year that saw the closure of three locations in 2025.

In a statement shared on the company’s Facebook page, Ray Ray’s emphasized that the filing is not a shutdown but a financial reset.

“We’re open and operating normally with our core locations,” the company said. “Chapter 11 is a reorganization tool that gives us a structured way to address legacy obligations while continuing to serve customers. We made a strategic decision to use Chapter 11 to reset and come back even stronger.”

Chef-owner James Anderson has stated that daily operations are ongoing as normal. The company employs 43 people across its remaining locations.

The bankruptcy filings cite significant financial strain due to higher operating expenses, declining revenue, and creditor pressure.

According to court documents, Leroy's Meats reported $428,029 in assets and $1.17 million in liabilities, while Smoke Ring listed $264,349 in assets and $1.2 million in liabilities. Combined, the businesses reported approximately $692,000 in assets against $2.37 million in liabilities.

Revenue at Leroys Meats declined to $2.83 million in 2025, down from nearly $4 million in each of the previous two years. Smoke Ring revenue increased to $1.61 million. Total combined sales were $3.99 million in 2025, slightly below both 2024 and 2023 levels.

Ray Ray’s current operations include its Granville restaurant, the Westerville drive-thru, a food truck at Land-Grant Brewing in Franklinton, and a Clintonville location that opened this year in a shared space with Fusian. Earlier this year, the company opened and later closed full-service restaurants in Marion and Johnstown, as well as a food truck previously based at Aardvark Wine & Beer in Linworth.

The company said it remains focused on service during the reorganization. “Our team is working, and we remain committed to our customers and the community,” the statement said.

The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.

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