Korean, Japanese restaurant in Oakley closes after more than a decade in business

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CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A Korean and Japanese restaurant known for its sizzling bibimbop, large ramen bowls and flavorful bento boxes has closed its doors after 12 years in the Oakley community.

Stone Bowl, located at 3355 Madison Rd. near MadTree Brewing Company, closed Sunday, Aug. 16.

Owners Young Park and Misook Gwon say they decided to close the restaurant because of a job relocation.

“Four years ago, my wife accepted a job in another state, and since then our family has been temporarily living apart,” a letter on the restaurant’s Facebook says. “We did our best to make it work, but now the time has come for us to close this chapter, reunite our family, and begin the next one together.”

Since opening in 2014 and surviving the Covid-19 Pandemic, the couple has felt the Oakley community’s warmth for more than a decade.

For Park and Gwon, this next step is more than saying goodbye to Stone Bowl — it is saying goodbye to their home.

“Like so many small businesses, we did not know what the future would bring,” the owners wrote. “But somehow, we kept going. We truly believe we could not have made it through that time without your support, encouragement, and kindness.”

Despite the geographic distance that will be between the family and the Oakley community, the couple says they will carry everyone’s kindness and friendship with them wherever they go.

“We leave with so many memories and with this place deeply rooted in our hearts,” the letter says. “To everyone who walked through our doors, shared a meal with us, brought your family and friends, offered a kind word, gave us advice, laughed with us, worried about us, and sometimes simply treated our restaurant as a second home — thank you. There are no words that can fully express our gratitude.”

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