After 20 years, downtown Lexington restaurant closing original location. What’s next?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Goodfellas Pizzeria will close its original Mill Street location after 20 years.
- Owners purchased the Walter Warfield building for $3.15 million.
- The basement will have a full bar as a Wiseguy Lounge.
After 20 years, Goodfellas Pizzeria is going to close its original downtown Lexington location at 110 N. Mill St., which opened in 2006, and move around the corner.
Founders Alex Coats and Eric Boggs said the move will be bittersweet but is necessary.
“We’re so thankful for all the love and support we’ve gotten. Our OG, our baby if you will, has always been really small. There’s not even one seat inside the restaurant,” Coats said. “We always wanted to have our full concept, but the building has so many challenges.”
So when an opportunity opened up around the corner, they went for it.
“It’s very emotional too, we don’t want to leave but this just made sense as a business move,” he said.
Last February, they purchased the historic Walter Warfield building at 122-124 N. Upper St. for $3.15 million from Chad Needham and business partners Chris and Teri Kelly, who had completely renovated the structure built in 1806.
“We’re told it is the oldest commercial building in Lexington,” Coats said. “It’s a Goodfellas building. It fits us. It’s small but it adds the bar.”
What the new Goodfellas will be like
Goodfellas Pizzeria will be going into the spot once occupied by a variety of restaurants, but will be much larger and feel much different.
The pizza restaurant will occupy the ground floor, Coats said, while the newly dug-out basement will become another Wiseguy Lounge, similar to their signature concept at the Goodfellas Pizzeria in the Distillery District off Manchester.
You will be able to enter the bar from Short Street directly or go through Goodfellas and down a staircase, speakeasy style, he said. “The basement will have a full bar in it. It’s really cool with the old foundation walls, completely restored,” he said.
Outside on the sidewalk they hope to add some covered seating, Italian-cafe style, as well.
The menu and the hours will remain largely the same, with New York-style slices, whole pies and salads available for lunch, dinner and late night, but they will add draft beer.
Coats said they are hoping to move this fall, and would love to have it accomplished before the fall racing meet at Keeneland.
“We will move Goodfellas Pizzeria, but we’ll do it the right way ... we like to throw big parties,” Coats said.
Plans for new Mill Street restaurant
As for the original restaurant spot on Mill Street, Coats and Boggs will still have that leased for some time and are cooking up something new.
“Don’t worry Lexington, we’ve got some really great idea;” Coats said.
