Left over debris from the closed Jellyfish Restaurant on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Jellyfish Restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Matthew Mueller
Matthew Mueller
mmueller@herald-leader.com
An iconic Lexington restaurant known for its ambitious design and 18-foot-tall jellyfish tank is gone.
Demolition on the building that once held the Coba Cocina restaurant happened this month. Workers were combing through the rubble at 2041 Richmond Road on Wednesday.
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Leftover debris from the closed Coba Cocina restaurant building on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 2041 Richmond Rd. in Lexington, Ky. Matthew Mueller mmueller@herald-leader.com
Worker removes debris on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the former Coba Cocina restaurant at 2041 Richmond Rd. in Lexington, Kentucky. Matthew Mueller mmueller@herald-leader.com
The demolition comes as developer Greer Land Co. has proposed putting in a bank and a quick-service restaurant. No concept was specified for the proposed restaurant, which would be 2,700 square feet, with indoor and outdoor seating and a double drive-thru, according to the plans approved by the city in April.
The proposed bank building would be 2,900 square feet and also have a double drive-thru. No specific tenant was listed for the bank building either.
Leftover debris from the closed Coba Cocina restaurant building on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 2041 Richmond Rd. in Lexington, Ky. Matthew Mueller mmueller@herald-leader.com
Demolition crew clears debris on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Jellyfish Restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Matthew Mueller Matthew Mueller mmueller@herald-leader.com
Neither building would have an entrance directly off Richmond Road; both would use existing entrances and exits for the Idle Hour Shopping Center from St. Margaret Drive and Coburn Boulevard.
The restaurant would sit closest to St. Margaret Drive, while the bank would be between the restaurant and the Family Dollar store.
The dining room at Coba Cocina in Lexington in August 2013. The restaurant, known for its jellyfish aquarium, closed in 2016. Matt Goins Herald-Leader
Coba Cocina opened on Richmond Road in Lexington. Matt Goins Herald-Leader
The 400-seat restaurant and bar, which also had a confectionery and an ice cream spot inside with a separate entrance, was the brainchild of Lee Greer, president of Greer Companies, who hoped the glamorous Latin-inspired restaurant with its Italian blown-glass chandeliers would wow Lexingtonians.
Jonathan Lundy, former chef at Coba Cocina. Mark Cornelison Herald-Leader file photo
But the restaurant closed in 2016. In 2018, a Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse opened there but it closed after less than a year.
In December 2023, the building’s contents including kitchen equipment and dining room booths and tables began to be auctioned off after the building was cited for code enforcement problems. According to code enforcement, Greer Properties indicated then that the building would be demolished.
One of Lexington’s most unique and largest restaurant buildings at 2041 Richmond Road, sits empty Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Lexington, Ky. with absolute auction signs in its windows for the restaurant’s equipment. The restaurant was home for two Lexington dining spots that ultimately closed. Originally opened in March 2013 as Coba Cocina, the building was known for its jellyfish tank, but the restaurant closed after three years of operation. Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse opened in fall 2018 and closed less than a year later. The building has sat empty since then. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp.Support my work with a digital subscription
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