Kahunas Island Bar & Grill - New Menu

         Kahunas Island Bar & Grill on Southland Drive in Lexngton, Ky has just enveiled a new menu .    They have added several "comfort food" types of items to an already interesting menu .   

Charlie's Fresh Seafood in Lexington

              One of my favorite places to get a fish sandwich in central Kentucky is Charlie's Fresh Seafood on Winchester Road.    I love their big honkin fish sandwich...........see pic below :

Romance or Ruin event sold out

           This Tuesday December 11 is the first in a series of panel discussion events organized by Business Lexington .   This first one, Romance or Ruin , will have a great group of panelist and will focus on issues to consider when entering the restaurant business .    As of yesterday the event is sold out !

Lexington restaurants/bars no longer open

   Here is a partial list of  Lexington restaurants and bars that were popular in the 60's and 70's but are no longer open :


The Bistro

The Little Inn

Cliff Hagan’s Steakhouse

Don Q’s

Bombay Bicycle Club

Nellie Kellies

Levis’s

TW Lees

Johnny Alman’s

Coach House

The Campus Corner

Brookings Chili

The original Long John Silver’s

Saratoga

Rogers Restaurant

Cork and Cleaver

Gabby’s Gourmet Grill

The Paddock

Stingles

Greenstreets

Flarety’s

The Red Lion

Comers

Boots

JDI

803 South

Breedings

Comers and Boots Bar

Hey Friends

          Doing some bar/restaurant history research and would love to hear from people who have memories and photos of the bar/strip joints in Lexington called Comers and Boots .


Mark

NEAT Glass Two Pack

   Here is a NEAT Glass Two Pack photo

Whisky Bar - V Market in Danville , KY

           The V Market in Danville, KY has opened a whiskey bar in a side room .   They have also done something cool by using old bottles for lighting..........see below  

The NEAT Glass- The Shape of Flavor

The Dixie Cafe and Quick Stop in Keene, KY

          Check out their website .............takes country stores to a new level :


 http://www.thedixiecafeandquickstop.com/index.html

Old 27 BBQ

             A new BBQ joint has opened up on US 27 in Garrard County behind the Shell station just as you enter the county from Jessamine .   It has limited hours and focuses on catering and carry-out.   The building is pretty cool looking .

Second Josie's opening up at old Murray's location

             A second Josie's will soon be opening up at the old Murray's location on Harrodsburg Road ( Highway 68 ) .    Owner Bobby Murray projects an early November opening .

The Neat Glass - The Shape of Flavor

             The Sievers Company LLC has become an independent distributor for the NEAT Glass  .  More on this later but here is  the link to information on the product .

           www.theneatglass.com   . 

         Additionally, here is a picture of the glass :

     

Caribbean theme restaurant coming in Lexington ?

              Could be.............stay tuned and check back : 0 )

Kentucky based coffee ecommerce business for sale

            A Kentucky based ecommerce business is for sale that focuses on coffee .  Contact me if interested .


           www.honeybean.com   

QR Code for my business website

Tates Creek Centre

           Rumors are starting to surface about the soon to be vacant Ace Hardware Store in Tates Creek Centre .     Stay tuned for news on this !    Will it be a restaurant like Sal's ??

Glenn's Creek Brewery

         What is it?     Where is it ?    Stay tuned for more information !

Kentucky Commercial Kitchen Incubator

   
            There is now a shared use commercial kitchen operation in Louisville , KY .  It is call Kytchen  http://www.kytchen.com/  .    This is something Lexington has a need for .

Casual Theme Restaurant in Lexington

       Established casual theme restaurant in Lexington.........downtown area .........is available .  Very discrete sale process..........contact me

Big Kahuna concept taking over Crossroads spot on Southland Drive

      More on this coming !

Dairy Cheer franchise rights available

       The franchise rights, trademarks, etc. for the Dairy Cheer brand are for sale and I represent the owner .   Contact me for details :

Mason Liquors in Lexington

         Mason Liquors in Lexington on Chinoe Road has new owners effective today July 1 , 2012 .  Look for some interesting changes in the coming week that I predict the trade area will like .

Eastern Kentucky Food Trail

        I am working on an " Eastern Kentucky Food Trail " concept and welcome any ideas

Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse is coming to Lexington

See link below

http://bizlex.com/2012/06/planning-underway-for-downtown-jeff-rubys-steakhouse/

Article on whats going in the old Buddy's location

http://bizlex.com/2012/05/20898/

Why Food Trucks are here to stay !

One of the more interesting foodservice developments in recent years is the emergence of “food trucks” as a new food purchase option for consumers . A food truck ( or mobile food vehicle ) is essentially a mobile kitchen that usually has a product theme and serves a specific product line . These “trucks” have been built , engineered and/or remodeled to have full kitchen capability to produce their product.


Like many cities around the US , Lexington is in the throes of figuring out the best way to adapt to this trend in a common sense community , consumer and business friendly fashion. Before delving into this I think its useful to review some information about food trucks .

1. One of the best known and respected restaurant research and analysis organizations is Technomic ( www.technomic.com ) . In 2011 they produced a study that indicated that food trucks are a trend with staying power and not a fad . Furthermore , its a trend with a lot of potential growth potential .



2. Social media is an important element of food truck success . Food trucks are mobile and social media is a convenient way to not only keep up with where they will be , it is also way for the consumer to “connect” with the business. Additionally, for a business with no permanent address or location , Twitter or other social media gives it a sense of place or permanence.



3. Food trucks are a lower capital investment cost way to get into the food business which is always important but more so in a down economy .. Additionally, because they are mobile there is also no “location risk” . A game changing business model .



4. The lower investment threshold can make it easier to get into the food business which reduces a barrier to entry for food innovators . This makes the food truck business environment an important element in a regional culture of food innovation which feeds into other elements of a creative city . They are becoming symbols of innovation .



5. Closely related to the social media factor is the emergence of mobile apps to assist people in finding food trucks . Examples include Food Truck Fiesta, Road Stoves GPS and Roaming Hunger .



6. The social media and mobile communication aspect helps explain why food trucks are so popular with the millennial generation ( or post Gen X ) which is 50 million strong and the largest generation in the history of the United State . They are mobile oriented and attracted to unusual and unconventional communication .



7. Established restaurants can use food trucks to extend their brand in their region and/or test the acceptance of their brand in other markets .



Lexington, probably due to market size , has lagged behind Louisville in the food truck arena . However, much has happened in the last year revealing that there are real issues that must be addressed to make the business environment friendly to food trucks but in a way that is fair with other “stakeholders” in the discussion. Additionally, there is the related issue of “food carts” which are smaller, not vehicular, and can locate on sidewalks .




Mark Sievers

Trader Joes in Lexington

         The new Trader Joe's in Lexington on Nicholasville Road  must be getting closer to opening since a sign is now on the building .

Dairy Cheer article

         Here is a link to an interesting article on the history of  Kentucky based Dairy Cheer


 http://www.bluemaumau.org/11437/real_story_smashburger

QR Code for my Resorts and Restaurants For Sale website

Lexington Kentucky Food Trucks

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-BizFocus-c-2012-04-11-101398.113117-Making-Room-for-Food-Trucks.html

Article on importance of people in the restaurant business

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-BizFocus-c-2012-04-11-101406.113117-The-fifth-p-and-the-Saul-Good-business-model.html

Kentucky Food Bloggers

A great resource for reading about Kentucky food is the following blog site.   They also have a Facebook site .
 


http://kyfoodbloggers.wordpress.com/

Common Grounds Expands Parking

            One of my favorites in Lexington, KY is Common Grounds Coffee House .   Just recently they dramatically expanded their parking capacity making it much easier to find a spot during week days .

Akers Angus Beef

   Here is a link to an article about Akers Angus Beef in Garrard County, KY

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-BizFocus-c-2012-03-28-101135.113117-Akers-Aged-Angus-Beef-carves-out-a-meaty-niche.html

Great Food Court Restuaruant Available

         A great looking, profitable , and established Fayette Mall food court restaurant is for sale .  Contact me for details . 

Keg Wine Coming To Lexington, KY

       A local restaurant in Lexington will soon be the first restaurant in Kentucky to serve keg wine on tap using product from the Gotham Project  .  Stay tuned for details !

1. www.gothamproject.net

Market to open in Midway

         Laura Wolfrom , the owner of Bistro La Belle restaurant which closed last year, plans to open a neat market in the same location soon.     More on this coming soon !

Stuarto's Coming to Chevy Chase

       Looks like a lot is happening in the Chevy Chase trade area.   In addition to McAlisters Deli and Graeters opening in the area , Stuatos ( olive oils and balsamic vinegars ) is opening in the area as well .

New Lexington, KY breakfast options on the way ?

            Rumor has it that two breakfast focused restaurant chains are looking to expand in Lexington :


1.  Wild Eggs which has a presence in Louisville

2.  National chain First Watch which has a location in Covington, KY

Josie's new location

             Josie's in the Chevy Chase of Lexington will soon be opening a second location in the old Murray's location on Harrodsburg Road .   Expect a mid or late April opening .

Bluegrass Food Truck Association

            Food trucks are a hot business model and growing across the United States and Lexington has a few and more in the works .   One organization that has formed recently to support this movement  is the
Bluegrass Food Truck Association .  

          http://www.bluegrassfoodtrucks.org/

          They also have a Facebook page and are on Twitter  bgfoodtrucks  

Cole's 735 Main in Lexington

       An exciting new restaurant will be opening soon in Lexington, KY .   Cole's 735 Main will be an upscale casual restaurant and located in the old Onizim's location at 735 E. Main Street.   The opening is scheduled for around March 1 .  More details to follow .