New Kentucky Long John Silver’s nearly broke a sales record. Is Lexington next?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Nicholasville Long John Silver’s nearly broke opening day sales record in 2025.
- The company launched an updated menu, digital kiosks and a new rewards app.
- The brand eyes a Lexington return amid strong local demand and growth strategy.
There hasn’t been a Long John Silver’s in Lexington, its original home, since 2021, and apparently, people missed their crispy fried fish.
So much so that a new location in Nicholasville almost broke the opening day sales record. Does that mean a return to Lexington is in store?
Christopher Caudill, senior vice president of marketing and innovation at Long John Silver’s, said the new location came “very close” to the record for sales on a grand opening day. The company knew people in the area had been hungry for a Long John Silver’s return, but didn’t expect this kind of turnout, he said.
“The energy around this has been building ... when word got out, there’s been enough chatter on social media that people were excited to see it,” Caudill said. “So we knew it was going to do well. I don’t know that we knew it’d do that well.”
Caudill said Long John Silver’s looks different than when it was last in Lexington. They’ve improved the chicken, made the fish thicker and launched crispy waffle fries “that hold up really well,” he said.
Outside of the food, Caudill said the restaurant has new digital menu boards inside and at the drive-thru, added digital ordering kiosks and launched its app and rewards program last year.
Will Long John Silver’s return to Lexington?
“We are working on a resurgence for the brand,” Caudill said. “Given this new modern look and feel, like the one in Nicholasville, we are moving into an expansion.”
Will there ever be a Long John Silver’s return to Lexington? Caudill said there is a desire from Lexington residents for Long John Silver’s, and wouldn’t rule out a return.
“We’re always looking for new places to sail into,” Caudill said.
What happened to Long John Silver’s in Lexington?
Long John Silver’s originated in Lexington in 1969. The first location, at 301 Southland Drive, shut down in 1991.
But Long John Silver’s sailed away from Lexington in 2021.
The last location was located at 2197 Versailles Road and closed down with the expansion of the Village Branch of the Lexington Public Library.
Before the Nicholasville restaurant, the closest location was in Paris at 320 Letton Drive. That location is still open.
Long John Silver’s
Where: 140 Hope Court
When: 10 a.m.- 11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. ; 10 a.m.- 12 a.m. Fri.-Sat.
Online: https://www.ljsilvers.com/locations/ky/nicholasville/140-hope-court/