Business

Long-awaited Lexington shopping center is thriving one year later. See what’s there now.

Under construction at the Summit is the Origin, a boutique hotel scheduled to open in April 2019, which will feature 120 guest rooms, retail space and The Still restaurant.
Under construction at the Summit is the Origin, a boutique hotel scheduled to open in April 2019, which will feature 120 guest rooms, retail space and The Still restaurant. rgarrison@herald-leader.com

Since The Summit opened for a preview in April 2017 and really got going a few months later, the complex at Man o’ War and Nicholasville Roads has been a subject of great interest in the area.

Now it has shifted into turbo mode — with a new hotel going up, offices being occupied and an apartment complex that is almost full.

The area, which includes shopping, restaurants, apartments, offices and a Food Hall, says that a year later it’s thriving — and growing.

Britni Johnson, who works for The Wilbert Group, said that The Henry at Fritz Farm apartment complex is 90 percent leased. The apartments start at $980 for a luxury one-bedroom and top out at $2,250 for a three-bedroom.

The Wilbert Group handles media relations for the Bayer Properties development, owner of The Summit.

The big building being constructed on the Man o’ War side of The Summit is the Origin Lexington, a boutique hotel scheduled to open in April 2019. It will feature 120 guest rooms, 4,400 square feet of retail space and a full restaurant called The Still, as well as a bar and event space.

Developer Ike Thrash said in a 2017 interview that The Summit’s mixed-use development was the lure to put the hotel there.

Blue Diamond Hexatronic and Progressive Leasing are the first two tenants in the Summit’s office block, each taking more than 5,000 square feet. The offices includes 44,000 square feet of space in the building housing Babalu’s Tapas & Tacos. NAI Isaac is handling the leasing.

The Summit added to its pampering services with the addition of Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa on Sept. 17..

The Barn at Fritz Farm celebrated its first anniversary on Sept. 21. The food hall includes eight local businesses, including Athenian Grill, Atomic Ramen, Crank & Boom, Kentucky for Kentucky, La Petite Creperie, Pasture by Marksbury Farm, Smithtown Seafood and Whiskey Bear. In August, the Travel Channel named The Barn one of the 10 most delicious food halls in America.

Tenants at The Summit include Shake Shack, Pottery Barn, Arhaus, Honeywood by Ouita Michel, Brooks Brothers, J. Alexander’s and Warby Parker. Anchoring the outside corner of the development is the Whole Foods store, which moved from Lexington Green.

At the April, 2017 preview, Bayer Properties founder Jeffrey Bayer said The Summit was designed as a place where shoppers could linger for long period at a variety of attractions.

“To engage people, you need an environment where you can shop all day,” Bayer said.

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