Lexington restaurant chain BHG is expanding in Lexington. What’s coming and where.
The west side of Lexington is getting a new restaurant option from Bluegrass Hospitality Group.
A new Drake’s, the third in town, will go into Townley Center, the Anderson Communities shopping center off of Leestown Road inside New Circle Road.
The new restaurant will go in a new building next to an existing Starbuck’s. It will be at 1735 Sharkey Way. The 6,000-square-foot Drake’s will have seating for 180, according to a building plan approved by the city.
“We love bringing our brands to great sites and believe this will be another perfect location for us to continue growing in Lexington and beyond,” said Amber Cook, spokeswoman for BHG. She said they do not have a set timeline to release yet.
Dennis Anderson said that he hopes the new restaurant will open by late summer of 2022.
“We’re really excited that Drake’s chose our last undeveloped site in the community. We think it’s going to be a great addition,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t think of a better corporate citizen to fill a need for that part of town. It’s a very under-served part of town. Drake’s has good food and is good place to get a cocktail. I think everybody will be very excited.”
The menu at Drake’s focuses on smashed burgers, sandwiches, steak, and gourmet bar food as well as craft cocktails.
This will be at least the second major Lexington chain to add a location to the west side. Ramsey’s Diners announced in July that it will open a fifth location off Leestown in a new Anderson development, The Villages at Great Acres, in 2022.
Bluegrass Hospitality Group, which owns Drake’s, also owns Malone’s and Malone’s Prime Events, Harry’s, OBC Kitchen and Aqua Sushi.
BHG was co-founded by Brian McCarty and Bruce Drake in 1998. There are currently 18 Drake’s locations.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
