Lexington food business transformations: 2025 highlights

Lexington’s dining scene is rapidly evolving with several significant business moves. The Quarter in Richmond, created by Blue Stallion Brewing, Apollo Pizza, Holler Burger, and House of ‘Cue, brings a festival-like atmosphere with multiple food brands and entertainment options. Publix entered the local grocery market with a strong buzz, drawing early crowds for their famous subs and adding new competition to the established grocers.

Established favorites are also transforming; Azur Restaurant reopened with a refreshed menu and new chef, while Minton’s relocated to National Avenue with a larger space and updated offerings like lentil dahl empanadas. Other new arrivals like Radio Star Lounge’s ‘80s-themed bar underscore how local dining and nightlife are embracing both nostalgia and innovation.

Ieasha Allen, owner of Creaux cocktail bar on Short Street, plans to open a new private dining club downtown on South Broadway. January 23, 2024. By Marcus Dorsey

NO. 1: 25 TO WATCH IN 2025: RESTAURANT OWNER OPENING PRIVATE DINING CLUB; ROOFTOP BAR COMING

Ieasha Allen used to be part of a downtown Creole place, but now she’s expanding her culinary horizons. | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Exterior shot of The Quarter, in downtown Richmond’s new Mill District on January 31, 2025, in Richmond, Ky. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 2: LEXINGTON BREWER, BURGER, BBQ, PIZZA RESTAURANT CREATE RICHMOND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

See what’s going on inside this “adult playground.” | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matt Wickstrom

A variety of a dozen doughnuts from Jeff’s Donuts, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. The new-to-Lexington doughnut shop is opening a location near downtown and the University of Kentucky campus on South Broadway. Doughnuts shown include clockwise from top, chocolate iced sprinkles, apple fritters, vanilla iced cookies and cream long john, vanilla iced chocolate chips long john, blueberry iced cream filled long john, vanilla iced fruity pebbles long john, original glazed, chocolate peanut butter honeymooner and strawberry iced sprinkles. By Brian Simms

NO. 3: SNEAK PEEK: NEW 24-HOUR LEXINGTON DOUGHNUT SHOP HAS 22 VARIETIES OF HANDMADE LONG JOHNS

See why this Louisville-based doughnut shop is so popular, and get details on its Lexington opening. | Published January 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

A pepperoni pizza at Rolling Oven inside the kitchen at Mirror Twin Brewing Co. at 725 National Ave. in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 4: POPULAR LEXINGTON BREWERY OPENING ANOTHER LOCATION WITH WOOD-FIRED PIZZA

The new taproom will be opening just down the road from one of the city’s biggest developments. | Published January 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A sun-drenched seating and dining area with custom-made countertops at Minton’s new 701 National Ave location, which’s set to open just in time for Valentine’s Day, on Monday, February 10, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 5: FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW LEXINGTON MINTON’S: APPETIZERS, CAKE, FRIES AND ALL YOUR FAVORITES

Details on the new location and what’s coming to the menu. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Papi’s Rapido, a new restaurant at 1214 South Broadway, will a grand opening June 26, 2020, with outdoor seating and a drive-through service, dining options that happen to also adhere to social distancing concerns due to COVID-19. This restaurant is a new, more fast-paced, location of Papi’s Mexican Restaurant in Chevy Chase. The menu will be similar to that of the existing restaurant, with items such as various street tacos, burritos, and quesadillas -- and including options for those with dietary restrictions. By Sam Mallon

NO. 6: POPULAR LEXINGTON MEXICAN RESTAURANT OPENING FOURTH LOCATION IN NEW SHOPPING CENTER

The new location will have some special details. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A crowd stretched down the sidewalk before dawn on Wednesday March 5, 2025, as Lexington’s first Publix grocery store prepared to open at 1952 Stockton Way just off Citation between Georgetown Road and Remington Way. By Janet Patton

NO. 7: CROWD LINES UP FOR OPENING OF LEXINGTON’S FIRST PUBLIX: ‘THE IN-N-OUT OF GROCERY STORES’

Many came for the Pub Subs, the fresh fruit and the rare bourbon. | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Radio Star Lounge is located at 123 West Main Street in an historic downtown Lexington building. The new downtown Lexington lounge is 80s themed.

NO. 8: NEW DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON BAR IS TOTALLY BRINGING BACK THE SOUNDS AND FEELINGS OF THE ’80S

The upscale ’80s-themed bar is opening with many iconic 1980s blasts from the past. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

CoreLife Eatery opens on Friday at The Summit at Fritz Farm, but you can go for a special pay-what-you-choose preview on Thursday that will benefit God’s Pantry Food Bank. CoreLife serves greens, grains and broth bowls for an “active lifestyle’ menu.

NO. 9: ANOTHER RESTAURANT CLOSES AT LEXINGTON’S SUMMIT. IT’S THE 9TH AT THE SHOPPING CENTER

The closure comes just six months after another restaurant closed in the shopping center. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Rally’s location on Richmond Road is finally open again after a kitchen fire destroyed the Lexington location in September 2023. By Rob Bolson

NO. 10: LEXINGTON RESTAURANT REOPENS MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER DEVASTATING FIRE

The restaurant is located in a prime, visible spot near a Man o’War intersection. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Cafe Patachou is a breakfast and lunch restaurant from Indiana. The menu includes sandwiches such as the Waffled Grilled Cheese, made with Cheddar and Swiss on “waffled” sourdough with a Parmesan crust, served with a cup of tomato artichoke soup.

NO. 11: NEW RESTAURANT FROM JAMES BEARD SEMI-FINALIST OPENING THIS FALL IN LEXINGTON

It’s one of two new tenants coming to The Summit at Fritz Farm shopping center. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The Surf & Turf dish ($42) at Azur Restaurant and Patio, shown Monday, May 20, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. Marinated and then grilled skirt steak is topped with a mint and pineapple chimichirri and shrimp and then served with sautéed haricots verts and melting potatoes. By Brian Simms

NO. 12: LEXINGTON RESTAURANT THAT CLOSED IS BACK JUST IN TIME FOR PATIO SEASON

What’s changing and what isn’t at Azur in Beaumont after a five-month closure. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.