>After some years the restaurant closed for renovation, and when it reopened there were completely different people working there, and the food was way worse. It was probably sold or went under new management, though they kept the name. So all the reviews this place had gotten over the years were really no longer relevant, as it was effectively a new restaurant. Yet all the Yelp reviews remained.

Well, it makes sense doesn't it? When you buy a restaurant you get to keep the name, location, word of mouth, etc. Makes sense you also keep the reviews.