Owner: Restaurant was not offered lease renewal option 

44 Stone Public House at 3910 Peachtree Drive will be in business for only two more months. Owner Mark Sulltrop announced Friday on Facebook that the restaurant will close Saturday, July 1, because its lease was not renewed. 

Sulltrop says the closure will end 12 years of operation at the space that he and fellow chef Dave Faron “envisioned, reinvented, and manifested as a gastropub” in 2011. 

COMO Business Times has confirmed that Sophia’s restaurant at 3915 S. Providence Rd. will relocate to that Peachtree Drive location at a future date.  

“It is with a frustrated and heavy heart that this unexpected announcement is made,” Sulltrop said in his social media post. “A lease renewal with 44 Stone was not offered by the owner of the building, despite the lease being in good standing for several years.” He said another local restaurant will be relocating there. 

“The restaurant is doing as well as ever, thanks to a very loyal local following,” Sulltrup said. “44 Stone absolutely intended to stay at the original establishment but cannot.” Sulltrup, the executive chef said it was his “heartfelt desire to remain.” 

Downtown Columbia’s 44 Canteen will continue to operate as normal. A new venture, 44 Tavern, will be launched in late July near Midway, where some 44 Stone staff will be able to work. 

“[Our] team planned on serving guests in this area at all three locations for as long as our community would support it – and they always received passionate support by the people of Mid-Missouri — and beyond,” Sulltrup added. 

He and the 44 family “are filled with many emotions through this difficult situation – but sincere gratitude stands out. 

“44 Stone was a place that hosted so many wonderful memories and milestones during the past 12 years. [We] are grateful for this community beyond measure and hope to share many more good times moving forward.”