Is Two Keys Tavern coming back at another legendary spot and is Benny Snell involved?
Two Keys Tavern filed for bankruptcy last month after 66 years in business at 333 South Limestone and now the bar has been cleared out.
But is it gone for good?
Over the weekend, former University of Kentucky football star Benny Snell went on Twitter to say he wants to save the legendary college hangout.
However, it might already have a new home at the old Pazzo’s location at 385 South Limestone, which is also owned by Two Keys bar owner Seth Bennett.
Attorneys for Bennett and for Leonard Marshall LLC, the landlord of the building at 333 South Limestone, were not immediately available for comment. Bennett’s Sethco and Leonard Marshall had been involved in a lawsuit over the bar since 2018.
In announcing the bankruptcy filing last month, Bennett said in a statement, that “Two Keys Tavern will either continue to operate in its current location, or move to a new home nearby.”
On July 30, the federal bankruptcy court in Lexington approved an order allowing Sethco to abandon property at the location, including the Two Keys Tavern sign, according to court documents.
Booths, tables, benches, and a bar also were abandoned, according to the filing.
Meanwhile, an application was filed in July with the city of Lexington for permits “to establish a cocktail lounge with indoor and outdoor live entertainment and/or dancing” at 385 South Limestone, the former home of Pazzo’s Pizza, the popular campus hangout which shut its doors in late 2019 after nearly 20 years in business.
A hearing before the board of adjustment is scheduled for Aug. 10, according to the permit filing.
BFB Holdings, whose members include Bennett, Ryan D. Foster, John B. Bruce and Cary J. Bruce, bought the Pazzo’s property in May 2018 for almost $2.25 million, according to Fayette County property records.
According to the application for the new permit, BFB “desires to reopen the property as an upscale cocktail lounge with live entertainment — an amenity currently missing in this part of Lexington despite recent expansions of residential and business operations nearby — to create new entertainment opportunities for students and young professionals.”
The entertainment would be live performances, small bands and DJs on an existing covered patio, with “modestly amplified music” until 1 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, depending on UK campus activities and sporting events.
The new venue, which is not named, would be across from new UK dorms and UK’s parking garage and Cornerstone Exchange, under construction on Limestone.
It’s unclear what Snell’s involvement might be.
He tweeted on Aug. 1, “KENTUCKY FAM, i need help getting in contact with the landlord of TWO KEYS TAVERN” and then later tweeted “Update I found them. Thanks for the help!!! big change otw.”
Snell, now a Pittsburgh Steelers running back, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 12:42 PM.
