Lexington bar known for open mic reopens after renovation
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- Owner Ryan Smith reopened The Cork after renovation, rebrand and sole purchase.
- Venue restored stage, sound and seating; resumes music, comedy and open mic.
- Owner plans patio expansion, larger capacity and a simplified food menu launch.
One Lexington bar that’s long been a haven for musicians and other creatives has reopened under new ownership, a renovation and a rebranding.
The Cork — previously The Twisted Cork — welcomed folks back after being closed for three months on Nov. 21 with lifelong music fan and former contractor Ryan Smith at the helm. After initially planning to go in on the business with two other partners earlier this summer, Smith in October bought their stakes out and proceeded on his own. .
“When the opportunity came up to buy the business, I couldn’t pass it by — it needed saving,” says Smith.
Smith said The Cork is also one of the first places he took his wife, Lindsey, while they were courting each other over a decade ago. He says moments like that and others with friends like Sundy Best’s Nicholas Jamerson and Kristofer Lee Bentley — the latter of whom will play the venue’s grand re-opening on Dec. 19 and 20 — have cemented the place in his memory forever.
“We walked in and it immediately felt like the bar from ‘Cheers’,” recalls Smith of his first visit to The Cork. “Things seemed to be going well when it first moved (into its current location) too, but overall the place didn’t have the same vibe as the old spot.”
What’s new at The Cork bar?
Smith hopes to recapture some of that magic with a re-brand that honors the bar’s past while also staking out a new vision for the future.
That means live music, comedy shows and other entertainment Thursday through Sunday is back, including a Sunday afternoon open mic that in its hey-day was one of the most popular in the region.
Renovations at the local bar include many new features like tables and chairs, bathrooms, bar, lighting, sound system and stage.
A food menu — which made its debut at The Cork when it relocated to 145 Burt Rd in early 2023 — is set for a comeback with new items in a revamped kitchen as well. Smith is eyeing a menu featuring pizza, burgers, wings, deep-fried pickles and more later this month.
“We want to keep the menu easy because at the end of the day most people are coming here to grab a drink and listen to music more than they are to eat,” says Smith.
The renovations included building a new bar and moving it back, creating over 200 square feet of additional seating space . Darkened walls, ceilings, and tinted windows give the room an even more cozy and intimate feel.
“Our primary goal was to design a space where people feel comfortable and are easily taken care of,” says Smith, who also pointed out that The Cork’s two new 86-inch televisions make it a great place to watch everything from UK sports to NFL and Premier League soccer.
However, The Cork’s biggest transformation is yet to happen. Smith recently got approval from his landlord and the City of Lexington to relocate a dumpster to the right of the building that will clear room for construction of an outdoor patio that would further expand capacity and entertainment options.
“This space holds so many memories and has given so much not only to our local musicians, but also the fans who support them that have been yearning for a listening room in town similar to Eddie’s Attic (in Atlanta) or (Nashville’s) Bluebird Cafe. I’m excited to welcome in longtime patrons of The Cork along with new ones to see what we’re all about.”
The Cork
Where: 145 Burt Road #20
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 4 p.m.-midnight., closed Monday-Tuesday
Online: Facebook.com/TwistedCorkLex
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.