After seemingly closing its doors for good last fall, the Lonely Pine Steakhouse is reopening under new ownership.
Madeline Sheblessy, who was the restaurant’s executive chef while it was open, has purchased the business from Jacob Trevino and his company, Gorilla Cinema Presents. Sheblessy and her partner, Mike Riley, plan to reopen the restaurant in mid-to-late April.
“My goal as a chef in Cincinnati is to collaborate and make Cincinnati restaurants the best,” Sheblessy told CityBeat. “The competitive nature inside myself is to make me the best … I want everyone in the city to be there with me.”
She says guests should expect the same flavors they’ve come to know and love alongside new and thoughtfully refined menu options. Sheblessy said she’s been working nonstop to build relationships with small regional farmers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and that she’s “finding beauty outside I-275 and bringing it inside the loop.”
“The menu will place an even greater emphasis on sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients—honoring the spirit of Lonely Pine’s past while embracing its future,” a statement from the restaurant reads in part.
In a social media post made early Monday, the new owners announced their plans for the restaurant.
“Think mid-century Route 66 flavors, a little nostalgia, a little magic… and some beautiful new additions we can’t wait to share with you,” the post reads. “The heart of it all stays the same, with an even deeper focus on thoughtful, farm to table cooking and ingredients we’re proud to serve. It’s familiar. It’s fresh. It’s Lonely Pine, reimagined.”
The restaurant previously closed in October 2025. Sheblessy’s talents have gained her a national spotlight with prominent appearances on cooking shows like Chopped and Guy’s Grocery Games.
The chef said she’s excited to get back into the kitchen and run the business with her family.
An exact reopening date for Lonely Pine Steakhouse has not been set.