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14 restaurant launches and farewells helping define Kentucky’s dining scene in 2025

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories tracks key Kentucky restaurant launches and closures in 2025 that shape the food landscape in the state.

A longtime favorite, Jean Farris Winery & Bistro, announced its closing in Lexington after more than two decades, while Smalls Sliders, a burger chain backed by a former NFL quarterback, prepares to open its first locations in the region.

Old School Coffee expanded to a new site on Tates Creek Road, bringing different bakery partners together, and Jeff’s Donuts, known for its variety of long johns, opened its first Lexington location with 24-hour service.

A new-to-Kentucky steakhouse, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, plans two Lexington openings, and West Sixth Brewing introduced a taproom in Covington inside a historic building.

CoreLife Eatery became the ninth restaurant to exit The Summit at Fritz Farm, signaling changes in Lexington’s prominent shopping center.

Meanwhile, Publix opened two new Lexington supermarkets—one at Citation Point and another at Fountains of Palomar—with prepared food zones and unique features like an in-store burrito bar and Pours cafe.

Read the stories below.

Delegate Hotel bar

NO. 1: NEW FRANKFORT HOTELS, RESTAURANTS LEAN INTO BOURBON TOURISM WITH ELEGANT DINING

Two stylish places to stay while you explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s distilleries and tasting rooms. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patti Nickell

Lexington-based craft brewery West Sixth Brewing is opening a new Northern Kentucky taproom with 19 beers on tap. The new taproom is called West Sixth Covington Haus and is named after a popular bar and restaurant that once occupied the location. Photographed Jan. 3, 2025 in Covington, Ky. By Brian Simms

NO. 2: SNEAK PEEK: WEST SIXTH BREWING EXPANDS INTO NORTHERN KENTUCKY, OPENING NEW TAPROOM

See inside the latest taproom as the Lexington brewer expands with another location. | Published January 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Publix, which opened its first Kentucky location in January, has put burrito bars to newly open stores, including the one in Louisville.

NO. 3: LEXINGTON’S FIRST PUBLIX IS OPENING SOON. HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

A grand opening date will be announced soon for the store off Citation Boulevard. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill’s Durango Burger, which is chili spiced and served with pepper jack cheese, fried onions and roasted garlic ranch dressing.

NO. 4: NEW-TO-KENTUCKY STEAKHOUSE PLANS TO OPEN TWO LEXINGTON LOCATIONS

Details on when and where the North Carolina-based steakhouse will open. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Smalls Sliders, a new-to-Kentucky burger chain that specializes in made-to-order cheeseburger sliders, is planning on opening four locations in and around Lexington. By DYLON YORK / POOLBOY STUDIO

NO. 5: LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER, FORMER NFL STAR QB TEAM UP TO BRING NEW BURGER TO LEXINGTON

Details on when the first restaurant could open in Kentucky. | Published January 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

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. 6: 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

The new Camel Club, opening in Lexington, will include a terrace with seating, according to this rendering.

NO. 7: PRIVATE CLUB OPENING IN LEXINGTON’S FORMER CROSS GATE GALLERY WITH RESTAURANT, BARS, TERRACE

Applications are open for membership. Here are the perks. | Published February 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

AJ’s Wings & Things’ menu will feature chicken wings and Southern soul food like chicken and waffles, sweet potato souffle and fried fish. The owners say all the sauces and side dishes are homemade. Photographed Friday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. By Brian Simms

NO. 8: NEW SOUL FOOD, WING RESTAURANT TO OPEN IN ONE OF LEXINGTON’S OLDEST SHOPPING CENTERS

This Lexington neighborhood is about to get a restaurant many say is needed. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Jean Farris Winery & Bistro requires advance online reservations for Lexington Restaurant Week. Their menu includes three courses for $39, with choice of entrees including salmon and seasonal vegetables on mushroom risotto.

NO. 9: LEXINGTON RESTAURANT, WINERY ANNOUNCES GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE. WHAT’S NEXT?

The winery has been open for 22 years. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

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. 10: 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

Chef Ouita Michel at Penny’s at Pomegranate, Friday, May 10,2025. (Photo by James Crisp)

NO. 11: OUITA MICHEL AND ANGELA BECK LAUNCH NEW RESTAURANT, FEATURING TO-GO OPTIONS

Chef Ouita Michel has joined forces with textile designer Angela Beck to open a new cafe, featuring courtyard dining and grab-and-go options. | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patti Nickell

The Teacher latte made with honey and vanilla at Old School Coffee, Thursday, May 23, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. All lattes can be served hot, iced or frozen at the local coffee shop which opened its third location May 1 in the Lansdowne Shopping Center. It has another location in Dudley Square and Fayette Mall. By Brian Simms

NO. 12: LEXINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDED COFFEE. POPULAR SHOP FOUND IT WAS THE PERFECT BLEND

See why this new location for the local coffee shop has been busy since it opened. | Published June 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Interior of the new Publix grocery store, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 3855 Fountainblue Lane in the Fountains of Palomar shopping center at the intersection of Harrodsburg Road and Man o’ War Boulevard in Lexington, Ky. The 55,701 square foot store is bigger than Lexington’s first Publix location at Citation Point, which opened March 5 with 46,791 square feet. By Brian Simms

NO. 13: LEXINGTON’S SECOND PUBLIX IS OPENING. SEE HOW THIS GROCERY STORE IS DIFFERENT

Get ready to sip on beer and grocery shop. See what else is different at the new Lexington store. | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton Brian Simms

Del Taco, the popular California Tex-Mex fast food chain, is finally moving into South Carolina, with plans to open its first location in Myrtle Beach.

NO. 14: RESTAURANT OWNED BY JACK IN THE BOX PARENT WANTS TO COME TO LEXINGTON

Also: Why doesn’t Lexington have a Jack in the Box yet? | Published June 3, 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.