Demolition begins on Richmond Road Applebee’s. New restaurant coming this summer.

Demolition is taking place on the Applebee’s Grill and Bar at 2299 Richmond Road in front of Southland Christian Church.

Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based fast-serve chicken chain, plans to open a restaurant there later this summer.

Chick-fil-A has Lexington restaurants at 2025 Harrodsburg Road; 2514 Nicholasville Road; Fayette Mall, 3401 Nicholasville Road; Hamburg Place, 1863 Plaudit Place; and at the University of Kentucky.

Chick-fil-A spokeswoman Brenda Morrow confirmed in early January that the restaurant is coming to that spot.

Chick-fil-A is the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States based on annual system-wide sales. It serves a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and wraps, but its staple item is the original chicken sandwich, a seasoned boneless breast of chicken that is hand-breaded and pressure-cooked in peanut oil, then served on a bun with dill pickle chips.

The Applebee’s Grill and Bar closed in 2016.

Manager Gary Felician said the restaurant lost its lease on the location.

This story was originally published January 30, 2018 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Demolition begins on Richmond Road Applebee’s. New restaurant coming this summer.."