Restaurant chain that’s been a big hit in Lexington expanding in Central Kentucky
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- PARLOUR expands from Lexington into Richmond, opening in late March.
- Hamburg-area PARLOUR will open this summer on Justice Drive; Lexington site delayed.
- Company aims for one more this year, then about three to four openings per year.
Indiana-based PARLOUR Pizza + Pints, which opened its first Lexington location on Harrodsburg Road in 2024, is expanding.
Now, the newest PARLOUR will be coming to Richmond. The new restaurant will open in a former Hooters at 241 Eastern Bypass, about a mile from Eastern Kentucky University, in late March, according to Don Robinson, PARLOUR CEO and president.
“It was always a part of our target demographic for bringing PARLOUR to the Lexington market,” he said. “Most of the time the real estate kind of dictates the location. We really like the layout and the visibility.”
He said they’d actually intended to open a second Lexington location first, but construction delays mean the Richmond restaurant will leapfrog one coming soon to the Hamburg area.
This summer, he said, a PARLOUR will open on Justice Drive, near Harry’s, Drake’s, Malone’s, Graeter’s Ice Cream and more. Like the one at 2099 Harrodsburg, the Hamburg spot will have a “UK room” showcasing the University of Kentucky Wildcats and artwork from local artists.
All will have the same menu and very similar design, usually with outdoor seating. The one in Richmond will have an enclosed patio, but it has five garage doors that can be opened to bring that “inside out” atmosphere, he said. The smaller location doesn’t a have a separate room, but will incorporate local artwork throughout, he said.
The restaurant chain is known for its relaxed vibe with tons of TVs for watching sports while you enjoy handmade pizza, calzones, grinders, saucy smoked wings, craft cocktails and extensive craft beer selection. Signature dishes include the Sriracha Bourbon BBQ Nachos.
Why so much expansion in Central Kentucky already? Because business is booming.
“We have been blown away by the way the Lexington Market has welcomed us,” Robinson said. “It’s our No. 1 store out of all of them. It’s been really fun. I didn’t spend a lot of time in Lexington until that store opened, and it’s been fabulous.”
Besides Lexington, there are three locations in Louisville and two in Indiana.
Richmond made sense as well: “We think it’s an underserved market, and we think it’s fantastic.”
And if you don’t live in Lexington or Richmond, don’t worry. PARLOUR might be coming your way soon with more growth in the works.
“We’re looking at a couple of different markets,” Robinson said. “We hope to get another one or so open by the end of the year, then three or four a year.”
