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Post-COVID casualties: How many local restaurants closed in Lexington in 2022?
These Lexington restaurants are moving to different locations or changing owners
Lexington lost plenty of local restaurants and bars in 2022, from the longstanding Parkette Drive-in that lasted 70 years to Tilty Bob’s that lasted only six months.
Many cited challenges with staffing shortages, rising costs of goods of all kinds and other issues in the decisions to close last year.
For some local and national chain restaurants, it was just too much. Over the year, at least 15 closed while nearly 50 restaurants opened in 2022. For comparison, in 2021 at least 21 restaurants closed while at least 45 opened.
But foodies have no fear, in 2023 more new local dining spots are on the way, plus some that are moving to new locations.
Here’s a list of some of the restaurants that are no longer open in the Lexington dining scene:
BurgerFi
BurgerFi, which opened at Rose and Euclid in 2017 in the remodeled Coliseum Plaza, closed just after the first of the year. Known for its smashed burgers and hand-cut fries, BurgerFi even hosted Martha Stewart in 2021 when the food and style icon stopped to eat there.
Fusion Brewing
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Fusion Brewing, which opened in 2019 by former Eastern Kentucky University chemistry professor Christian Paumi, closed as of Aug. 15. The business was one of the first to open in the Rickhouse on the Pepper Campus in the popular Distillery District off Manchester Road.
Gluten-Free Miracles
Gluten-Free Miracles, 145 Burt Rd., closed end of October after nine years serving specialty breads and baked goods coveted by those who can’t tolerate gluten. Owner Denise Walsh said that the ongoing difficulty finding employees, coupled with higher rent and production costs, forced the shop to close. She hoped to continue baking custom orders as she looks for a possible new location.
Loudon Square Buffet
Loudon Square Buffet, which was one of Lexington’s oldest restaurants, closed after 50 years in April after owner Max Flannery, 85, fell and wasn’t able to continue running the buffet. Longtime fans lined for a last taste of the food but said they’d miss Flannery more. He died in May.
Mellow Mushroom
Mellow Mushroom on Upper and Pine closed at the end of October. Owner Ryan Miller said they restaurant struggled to overcome the fallout from the COVID pandemic, including problems with hiring and with increased costs. The pizza place known for its funky atmosphere had been a staple of UK campus-area dining for years. Miller said he hopes to reopen a new concept in the spot soon.
Mezzo Italian Cafe
Mezzo Italian Cafe, the casual pizza and sandwich concept from local chef Mark Wombles, closed Dec. 31 after almost six years. He sold the restaurant to fellow Midway restaurant owner J.P. Gibson, who renamed it Gibson’s and reopened it with a new menu.
Newk’s
Newk’s Eatery opened in front of Southland Christian Church on Richmond Road in 2014 and closed in fall 2022. The chain popular in the South served California-style pizzas, salads, specialty sandwiches and sweet tea.
Oscar Diggs
Oscar Diggs, which opened in 2018 in the former Merit Furniture Building on North Limestone, closed in July 9 after almost five years. Known for its innovative food and craft beer, Oscar Diggs stayed afloat even through the pandemic by adding sidewalk seating and opening up the windows. But owner Ralph Quillin felt that he needed to focus on his other interests. The building has been leased for a new restaurant, Jack Brown’s Burger Joint, coming soon.
Parkette Drive-In
Classic Lexington diner Parkette Drive-In closed permanently in June after 70 years. The restaurant, known for its chicken boxes and burgers on New Circle Road was torn down and is becoming a parking lot for the car dealership next door. But the iconic neon sign is staying put according to the owners.
Pour Decisions
Pour Decisions, a bar with a speakeasy feel that opened on the east end of Main Street, in fall 2021 closed in July, less than a year after opening.
Sav’s
After more than a decade serving West African favorites and ice cream, Sav’s Restaurant and Gourmet Ice Cream closed in August. Owners Mamadou and Rachel Savane said they struggled with the decision to close but ultimately decided they were ready to lease the Main Street spot to La Taquiza. They kept their ice cream and hot sauce business going, though.
Tilty Bob’s
This burger joint on the corner of South Broadway and Cedar Street with tons of vintage arcade games closed in September after just six months. But other locations owned by the same people in Louisville and Indiana are still open so fans are hopeful that Tilty Bob’s could come back in a different location.
Soundbar
Soundbar, a gay bar, dance and night club at 208 S. Limestone, announced that in November that it would close after 13 years. Soundbar owners Isaac Kurs and David Jones said they are ready to pass the torch and are looking for a new owner to take on the business. The COVID shutdown, the ongoing pandemic and especially the difficulty hiring staff have all taken a toll on the business, Kurs said. “We lost a lot of long time staff and a lot of momentum,” he said. “Trying to build it back up would require us to be very hands on, and we don’t think we have it in us right now. We’re focusing on other projects, and we’re really looking for a new tenant to take over the space. It’s a great spot.”
Wilson’s in Greyline
Wilson’s, a popular Kenwick neighborhood grocery that had opened a second store in Greyline Station, closed the Northside location in July. The owners described ongoing labor and product shortages, sickness and high gas prices as an “uphill battle” in their post about the closure.
World of Beer
World of Beer, known for offering hundreds of different varieties of beer as well as a menu of comfort food, opened at The Summit at Fritz Farm in 2017. The bar and restaurant closed in July, saying in a post on social media that the chain “will miss this beautiful community.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
