Lexington shopping destination closing dining hall, adding new furniture store
The Barn, which was hailed as Kentucky’s first food hall when it opened in 2017, is not reopening, becoming a casualty of coronavirus closures.
Most of the restaurants at the venue at The Summit at Fritz Farm are focusing on other locations, according to a news release from Bayer Properties, the developer of the shopping center at Man o’War Boulevard and Nicholasville Road.
But Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream owner Toa Green said that for now her shop is still open for curbside carryout at the Barn location, with plans to work on relocation.
Another tenant, the bar Whiskey Bear, isn’t moving, according to co-owner Daniel Marlowe.
“Whiskey Bear will be reopening in its current location as soon as Governor Beshear allows bars to do so,” Marlowe said in a message. “As of right now that looks to be in July. We feel that with our large patio and The Summit’s Entertainment District Liquor License, we have a unique ability to offer a safe and enjoyable drinking experience to our guests. ... We are excited to be able to reopen our doors and serve our community as soon as we are allowed to do so.”
Bayer is reimagining the space, considering alternative uses for The Barn including as an entertainment or retail space, according to the release.
The mixed-use development also announced that a men’s boutique, Crittenden, has closed as well.
But The Summit is welcoming new tenants at its offices and retail spaces. Lovesac, a furniture retailer, will open in late 2020, and Bank of America has broken ground on a new building next to Starbucks at Nicholasville and East Tiverton, with plans to open in 2021. A pediatric practice, Dr. Michael W. Simon, also recently opened.
But Athenian Grill and Atomic Ramen will close their stalls for good to focus on other locations, according to the release; both have been dining providers at the University of Kentucky’s on-campus food halls.
Kentucky for Kentucky will close its stall and return to single store-front operation elsewhere.
And chef Ouita Michel will shutter her Smithtown Seafood in The Barn to focus on the successful Honeywood, a free-standing restaurant also at The Summit, according to the release.
Michel also has a Smithtown location in the West Sixth Brewery, which is doing takeout until the taproom is allowed to reopen.
“We have enjoyed tremendous success with Honeywood, but Smithtown Seafood has been a challenge,” Michel said in the release. “Such is the nature of the restaurant business – some concepts are successful, and others don’t perform as you would expect. We look forward to watching the transformation of The Barn and to continue serving guests, including many loyal customers, at Honeywood.”
In summer 2018 the Travel Channel named The Barn one of the 10 most delicious food halls in America. But last fall other original tenants of the food hall space left, including Pasture, an offshoot of the Marksbury Farm Market of the same name in Lancaster.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 3:25 PM.
