Lexington’s best fried chicken is about to close. Is there hope for saving its recipe?
The best fried chicken in Lexington (according to many) is about to fly the coop.
A statement from the board of Saver Group, which owns the Save-A-Lot on Southland Drive, confirmed Monday afternoon that the store will be closing.
The store, with its in-house bakery and deli, is known for its fried chicken, often used for tailgating and catered events, as well as baked goods, beer cheese and locally made dips and spreads.
“The lease for the Southland location was at the end of its term. The store had not maintained a level of performance necessary to be profitable,” the board said in a statement. “There are three other Save-A-Lots in the Lexington market that remain open to serve customers that need or want to save money on their groceries.”
The other Lexington locations are 1301 Winchester Rd. Suite 99 in the Eastland Shopping Center, 1235 North Broadway, and 2189 Versailles Rd. Brandi Humphrey, spokeswoman for Saver Group, did not respond to an inquiry on whether the other locations would serve fried chicken or what would happen to the popular recipe.
Employees told customers Monday that the store is closing Aug. 1.
A local foodie and podcaster posted on social media late Friday afternoon that the Save-A-Lot would be closing.
Alan Cornett, a Lexington Realtor who explores Kentucky food with his @EatKentucky podcast, posted Friday afternoon that “Sources inform Eat Kentucky that the best fried chicken in #Lexington may be going away. The Southland Drive Save A Lot has lost its lease and will close at the end of July. #sharethelex #lexky”
Soon, a frantic effort was under way on social media to save the Save-A-Lot. Customers began calling the company headquarters asking to save the chicken.
Debbie Lewis Sharon posted a call to arms on the Lexington Food & Dining News and Sharing Facebook group, saying, “Sav A Lot is planning on closing the Southland Drive store. (angry face emoji) Go Message corporate office—Save the Deli Ladies!!!! Best fried chicken in town!! They also carry items from Burke’s Bakery!! Cleanest SAL in town and nicest staff.”
She and others said they contacted Saver Group to ask them to keep the store or at least the deli going somehow.
But Monday that effort appeared to be fruitless. None of the other three Lexington Save-A-Lot stores have delis.
Besides being sought after for their fried chicken, the store has been known for its inexpensive meat and two sides lunch.
According to a 2018 Herald-Leader review, the secret to the great chicken was in the breading mix, which is the same one used when the store was a Slone’s Signature Market. The word is that the recipe had to come with the store. But the recipe may have originated with Walt Barbour’s Randall’s grocery on Romany Road.
Independent grocer Bob Slone sold the store at 398 Southland , which was the last Slone’s in Lexington, in 2010 to Saver Group, a Campbellsville franchisee of Save-A-Lot stores in the area.
The property is owned by Thomco Inc of Louisville. The 20,000-square-foot store was built in 1957.
