Owner of Lexington health restaurant charged with unlicensed alcohol possession
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- Lexington restaurant owner charged with felony unlicensed alcohol offense.
- Court records cite alcohol observed at NuHealth Kitchen, led by Justin Collister.
- Collister set for arraignment Thursday; no prior offenses indicated in records.
A health restaurant owner in Lexington has been charged with felony unlicensed alcohol possession, according to court records.
Justin Collister, 41, was charged July 30. He is the CEO and founder of NuHealth Kitchen, which is inside the United Motorsports building at 3180 Richmond Road.
NuHealth Kitchen offers customers healthy food options with fresh, homemade ingredients, including according to its website.
Court documents say Collister was in charge of the restaurant and was observed with alcohol on its premises. He was charged with unlicensed manufacturing, selling, storing, purchasing or transporting of alcoholic beverages.
According to Kentucky law, the first two offenses for a person charged with unlicensed alcohol possession are misdemeanors, and the third is a felony. Court records do not indicate any previous unlicensed alcohol possession charges against Collister, but he is charged with a felony.
The fine is $500 for the first offense, $2,500 for the second offense and $5,000 for the third and subsequent offenses, according to the statute.
Collister is scheduled to appear in Fayette District Court for an arraignment Thursday. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NuHealth Kitchen has placed in the top five of the last three Lexington Burger Week competitions. In 2023, the restaurant won with its Sweet Backyard burger.
This past summer, the restaurant’s Devilishly Sweet Smash burger was voted the fifth-best burger. In 2024, it placed third with its Garden Dip Bacon Delight burger.
NuHealth’s menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options It does not list alcohol.
