Closings, openings, and an ownership change: The latest in Lexington food and drink news
Lexington’s food and drink scene has seen new developments at a breakneck pace this week. From longtime favorite restaurants closing, to new ones opening, and coffee shops and bars going through changes, we’ve got the latest.
Here are the latest developments on local changes in the restaurant scene.
- Sallie Jane’s, the East Reynolds Road bar owned by Warren Edwards — the courtside DJ known as Warren Peace at University of Kentucky basketball and football games since the 2016-17 season — has closed after three years. The bar is closing so Edwards can care for his mother and co-owner, Nancy Ayers Edwards, who recently fell ill.
- Third Street Stuff and Coffee, the colorful North Limestone shop run by Pat Gerhard for decades, will close indefinitely on June 1 as Gerhard retires and her son Dave and his wife Lindsey take over. The change is causing friction between staff and ownership, as employees called for boycotts May 23 and 30 protesting what they called an apparent effort to union bust.
- Lockbox, the fine-dining restaurant inside the 21c Museum Hotel on West Main Street, served its last meal May 15 after a decade, with the team behind Fayette Mall’s Mileta planning a new concept in the space following 21c’s $14 million October sale to Thoroughbred Hospitality Group.
- A wave of new spots have opened or are coming soon, including Carson’s Back Porch on East Vine Street, a second Grounded All Day Cafe downtown, The Bruen Bunker golf-simulator bar in Midway and a Firebirds Wood Fired Grill planned near Costco in mid-June.
- Popular caterer DaRae Marcum plans to open DaRae & Friends at The Commons in August or September in the former Stuttgart Motors building on West Main Street, serving Southern breakfast and lunch with grab-and-go items from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The summary points above are based on the reporting of Herald-Leader journalists. The roundup was produced with the assistance of AI. Herald-Leader reporters and an editor reviewed this story for accuracy. You can read more about our AI policy here.