Pizza restaurant, entertainment complex coming to Versailles’ old Kroger location
A new family entertainment complex is under construction in Versailles’ old Kroger.
Mefford Contracting, a general contractor based out of Versailles, is partnering with Ohio-based Epic Eeats Restaurant Group to build two new The Works Brick Oven Pizza restaurants in Central Kentucky, one in the former Kroger in Woodford County and another in Brannon Crossing, just south of Lexington in Nicholasville.
In Versailles, renovations have started at the 76,000-square-foot building in Lexington Road Plaza and include the family-style pizza restaurant and an “indoor tailgating” area. Medford said they hope to open after the first phase of renovations is done in the fall of 2025.
Mefford and Epic Eeats have also partnered for The Works Brick Oven Pizza and By Golly’s restaurant expansions in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area. Lance Sizemore, owner and CEO of Epic Eeats said Mefford Contracting oversees construction while Epic Eeats manages the restaurants.
What attractions will the Versailles family entertainment center have?
Mefford founder Jordan Mefford said in a social media post with Versailles Mayor Laura Dake that possible attractions in the unnamed Versailles entertainment center include go karts, laser tag, arcade games including virtual reality, indoor roller coasters, inflatables, putt putt golf, duck pin bowling, rope courses and play areas for different ages of children.
“We’re really trying to focus on all age groups,” said Mefford. “We think it’s important to have an opportunity for children of ages to come and play.”
But little ones will not be the only ones getting all the attention: A taproom is part of the plans for what Jordan Mefford referred to as the “game day concept.” Mefford said the goal is to have that and the restaurant open by University of Kentucky football season and the 2025 Keeneland Fall Meet.
“And then after that, the first attraction should be up and running no later than spring of 2026,” said Mefford. “So, we’re trying to move quick, but we think within a year we’ll have a place pretty fit.”
Mefford Contracting said more details will come as the phases of the project move along including more food options.
Mayor Dake said in a previous meeting with Mefford Contracting, she was told the game day area would be indoors but have the feel of being outdoors.
“It’s sort of a place where you can ‘tailgate,’ even without having the tailgate, having a car,” said Dake. “(But) kids can run around and play, and people can play lawn games, and... TVs where you could watch a game as well.”
The city of Versailles bought the empty old Kroger location in 2022 after the grocery store built Kentucky’s largest Kroger Marketplace store across U.S. 60 in 2015.
The lease for the entertainment center is 11 years.
After many years, Dake said, “it’s really exciting to me that things are finally coming to fruition.”
“We’re very excited about this,” said Dake. “This is something that we’ve had a lot of feedback over the years, about there not being enough stuff for kids to do in town unless they were involved in organized sports. So this is just another option for families and young people to have something to do here.”
Where is the new pizza restaurant in Brannon Crossing?
The Brannon Crossing Works Brick Oven location is under construction at 802 East Brannon Road in Nicholasville.
According to a site plan, the family pizza restaurant will occupy almost 5,500 square feet of four new retail storefronts. Evan Mefford, President of Mefford Contracting, said all but 1,500 square feet of the retail space is leased.
The site is in front of Trinity Christian Academy and just down the road from Movie Tavern Brannon Crossing.
What’s on the menu at The Works Brick Oven pizza restaurant?
The menu for The Works Brick Oven features pizzas baked in a 600-degree old-fashioned brick oven. The pizzas are cooked quickly, creating a light and crispy crust.
“The Works Pizza Co. is best known for its handcrafted pizzas, fresh salads, and hearty pastas, all served in a family-friendly atmosphere” Sizemore said in an email.
The menu for the flagship Loveland, Ohio, location features 15 specialty pizzas including the Potato (potato and bacon with a dab of sour cream on a garlic butter sauce), Chicken Fajita (chicken, green peppers, onions, enchilada sauce topped with lettuce, tomato and fajita ranch dressing) and the Breakfast Pizza (scrambled eggs and American cheese as a base and any toppings you like.)
There’s also a selection of appetizers (Oven Baked Pretzel, Pizza Fries), salads (Southwest Blackened Chicken Salad, Popeye’s Teriyaki Mix), sandwiches and hoagies (Gourmet Grilled Cheese, steak hoagie) and pasta dishes (Mahi Fettuccine, Buffalo Pasta.)
This story was originally published April 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
