What’s going into the Parlay Social space? And which former UK athlete is behind it?
When the news broke in February that downtown music venue and bar Parlay Social had closed, there were more questions than answers: Who, if anyone bought it? What would become of the place? And would it still have live music?
Now LexGo Eat has answers.
The new concept will be coming very soon to Short Street’s Parlay Social building, and it will have live music, according to the new owner Stephen Scaldaferri.
Scaldaferri, the new owner of the restaurant, bar and music venue at 249 West Short St., is making many changes but not so many that regulars won’t feel right at home.
“We don’t want to lose the ‘social’ aspect. We want to be community-friendly,” he said. “We want this to be a destination when you come to Lexington. We don’t want to be ‘the bar that plays music.’ We want people to feel the atmosphere, the entertainment we’re going to have, and make it be ‘that spot.’”
Scaldaferri is no stranger to Lexington or its restaurant scene. A former University of Kentucky kicker, he is a partner with fellow former football player Dougie and Ieasha Allen in Creaux, which is across the street at 310 Short.
“We’ve obviously had success down there, brought a new little flair and flavor to the Lexington area,” Scaldaferri said. “I think we’re seeing a good refresh of downtown. Dougie and I have had a passion for it for years.”
Scaldaferri, who graduated in 2002 with a business degree in hospitality management, has hired former Parlay Social general manager Oliver Winn to run the new venue as well, which will be called ELIXIR Downtown.
And he tapped Minglewood chef Nick Fisher-Keller to run the kitchen.
Fisher-Keller plans for ELIXIR Downtown to have food all night, Scaldaferri said, to feed those in the bar as well as those who come to the sidewalk takeout window.
Scaldaferri hopes to open by the Keeneland Spring meet in April. In the beginning, the venue will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Live music will be returning with a broad lineup of musical acts from Nashville, Atlanta and other places, he said.
The bar is also being revamped, along with the seating and the decor. There will be more booths and more room to move around.
But one thing isn’t changing: the bourbons.
“Parlay Social was known as one of the best bourbon bars in Kentucky, maybe in the country,” he said. “We still plan to be a top bourbon venue.”
Scaldaferri has purchased the business from Bob Estes and is managing the building. The current second-floor tenants, a law firm, will remain.
And the beautiful top-floor three-bedroom condo has been put on AirBnB for short-term leasing.
Because Scaldaferri works full-time for a clinic research organization headquartered in Wilmington, N.C., he won’t be making day-to-day decisions.
Instead, he said, he is empowering employees. “We’re forming an employee-run business,” he said. “They’re excited about it, it’s new and different.”
So Fisher-Keller will be making the menu decisions, he said, including what to serve.
“We’re going to have elevated cuisine,” Scaldaferri said. He anticipates a fluid menu with a lot of locally sourced food. “We want to leverage the farmers’ market.”
He said ELIXIR Downtown is eager to join the burgeoning downtown scene.
“It’s just an excitement. Lexington is growing. City Center is a huge addition. ... And there is this hunger in Lexington for new things,” he said. “Lexington downtown is going to be that new destination spot.”
