New restaurants opening in Brannon Crossing; first one coming this month
Two popular Cincinnati-based restaurants are coming to Nicholasville: Skyline Chili and LaRosa’s Pizzeria finally will be opening in Brannon Crossing.
Gary Holland, owner of One Holland Corp., announced in the summer of 2019 that he was bringing the franchises to the shopping center between Nicholasville and south Lexington, but the plans were delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Now they are back on track. The first restaurant to open will be a Skyline Chili, coming Dec. 14 to 350 E. Brannon Rd.
The opening of LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria is expected in the spring of 2021, Holland said in a news release.
Usually, the openings coming with chances for new customers and old fans to get some freebies. But COVID put the kibosh on that this time.
When the Lexington Skyline opened in May 2019, fans lined up at the Richmond Road location to sample the unique Cincinnati chili flavor on “coney” hot dogs and spaghetti noodles covered in cheese. The spaghetti topped with chili and a mound of shredded cheddar cheese is known as a three-way; add diced onions or beans for a four-way; add both for a five-way.
“We genuinely want to thank the Nicholasville community with a community event when our Skyline opens, however given the current state of the pandemic, we’ll have to hold off for now,” Holland said in the release.
The 2,700-square-foot restaurant will include a 96-seat dining room as well as a drive-thru so you can get Cincinnati chili, coneys and “ways” safely.
The LaRosa’s will be 5,500 square feet and include a 160-person dining room, as well as a full-service bar and a “Buddy Room” for parties and events. Pick-up and delivery also will be available.
LaRosa’s has two locations in Lexington: One on Richmond Road and on Southland Drive just off Nicholasville Road, which is carryout only. Holland said when the Lexington Skyline location opened it set records and people kept asking when the Richmond Road LaRosa’s was going to open. So Holland doubled the kitchen capacity, making it the second-largest LaRosa’s in the chain, behind only the original. The Richmond Road location seats 186.
