Nourishing Growth: Nourished Folks partners with Wilson’s Grocery & Meat to provide Kenwickarea pickup location PAGE 6
New Kids on the Block: New businesses, farmers market and other developments give new life to the Warehouse Block PAGE 12
Q&A with Chris Blandford: Kroger’s wine and spirits expert on the bourbon business and why you might soon see more of your favorites on store shelves PAGE 17
From left: Jim Green, Joe Livecchi, Misdee Wrigley Miller and Tim Sabo at LEX Studios
PHOTO BY J.A. LAUB PHOTOGRAPHY
BusinessLexington
CONTENTS
PVAStatistics
The latest statistics on local residential properties PAGE 4
EconomicAnalysis
A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky PAGE 5
WriteStuff
Gramma(r) errors AI is likely to miss PAGE 5
CraveWorthy
Nourishing Growth: Nourished Folks partners with Wilson’s Grocery & Meat to provide Kenwick-area pickup location PAGE 6
QuickBites
Ranoush Fresh Juices, The Porch country café, and High Proof Hideaway open PAGE 7
SMILEY PETE PUBLISHING
BizLists
Audio/Visual Companies PAGE 14
Engineering Firms PAGE 16
Who’s Who
Employment updates and notable achievements from around the Bluegrass PAGE 18
IndependentBusiness
Student employees at Matchstick Goods learn critical skills while crafting ceramic wares PAGE 8
Live from Lex: Wrigley Media Group touts state-of-the-art facilities and enticing tax incentives in encouraging productions to film in Kentucky PAGE 10
New Kids on the Block:
New businesses, farmers market and other developments give new life to the Warehouse Block PAGE 12
BizLex Q&A: Chris Blandford
Kroger’s wine and spirits expert on the bourbon business and why you might soon see more of your favorites on store shelves PAGE 17
PHOTO BY J.A. LAUB PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO FURNISHED
PVAStatistics
These statistics on local residential and commercial property are compiled by the o ce of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator. The data reflect the most up-to-date information available at the time of printing for this publication, but monthly figures may be revised as additional public records of property transactions are submitted and become available.
Top Commercial Transactions for May 2024
5/28/24 2701 Magnolia Springs Drive
$17,500,000 VTR MSG Lexington LLC
5/22/24 2285 Versailles Road $4,300,000 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Inc.
5/23/24 2029 Buck Lane
$2,600,000 2029 Buck Lane LLC
5/23/24 1999 Richmond Rd Unit 4 $2,080,000* Drama Investments LLC
5/23/24 1999 Richmond Rd Unit 1 $2,080,000* Drama Investments LLC
5/16/24 1307 W. Main Street $1,550,000* Turner Property 4 LLC
5/16/24 1307 W. Main Street $1,550,000* Turner Property 4 LLC
5/16/24 1307 W. Main Street $1,550,000* Turner Property 4 LLC
5/8/24 350 Elaine Drive $1,000,000 Lexmore LLC 5/2/24 273 E. Maxwell Street $975,000 Advantage Real Estate LLC
5/2/24 620 W. Main Street $810,000 H & A Property Holdings LLC
5/24/24
*Sale Price Based on a Multiple-Parcel Transaction ** Parcel includes multiple improvements, see property record for details
Residential Sales Data for May 2024
The chart below shows the monthly residential sales activity in Fayette County for the previous 24 months. The data for the most recent month reflect a projected estimate from the o ce of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator and are subject to change.
EconomicAnalysis
A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky. For more on CBER, visit www.cber.uky.edu.
Note: In some cases 1 mo. And 1 yr. changes are based on revised data from previous mo./yr/
* Source: The Conference Board Research Group; http://www.conference-board.org/
** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release, http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/
*** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release; https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/
**** Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve; https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/
***** GDP is reported as Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars [Millions of chained (2012) dollars] Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (Updated numbers as of Jan. 27, 2023); https://apps.bea.gov/histdata/histChildLevels.cfm?HMI=7
WriteStuff
Gramma(r) Errors AI is Likely to Miss
It’s July, the time of year reserved for that most American of summer holidays — Discovery Channel presents Shark Week hosted by John Cena. As families across the country gather to witness what I can only assume is some sort of tussle between wrestler and fish, they may unwittingly find themselves in a dangerous grammar-related predicament.
Imagine John Cena is about to tombstone a hammerhead when you hear your father, Mr. Lee, call from the kitchen, “Could you please let everyone, especially your grandmother, know dinner is ready?” You quickly get to work crafting an email. You come up with two options. Either:
Your AI grammar assistant knows the obvious choice. The second option contains a grammatical error! ‘Its’ is underlined in red to warn you. The tool suggests you choose the first option.
But you decline. You are well aware that while most early Indo-European languages utilized a vocative case to address a particular person, modern English relies on vocative commas to set off proper nouns from the rest of the sentence. Your expertly tuned eye has spotted a grave mistake that would have made your grandmother unlikely to join you for dinner.
By Jonathan Hall
You choose the second option (after fixing the ‘its’) and hit send. And as everyone sits smiling at their usual place, your mood is only dampened by the fact that your AI assistant has taken a somewhat worryingly neutral stance on cannibalism. But that’s a problem for another Shark Week.
Other common errors some artificial intelligence tools can miss:
Gramma made coffee for Spock, Darth and I. (Correct: Gramma made coffee for Spock, Darth, and me. I = subject, me = object)
Grammas in bowling alleys roll more strikes than in other alleys. (Correct: Grammas roll more strikes in bowling alleys than in other alleys. Parallelism.)
That gang of grammas manage a UPS Store. (Correct: That gang of grammas manages a UPS Store. The subject is ‘gang’.) BL
Jonathan Hall is the Youth Programs Director with the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning. The Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St., is a nonprofit educational center offering seasonal writing, publishing and language classes, among other community programming. For more information, visit CarnegieCenterLex.org.
CraveWorthy
Nourishing Growth
BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Building on a shared desire to foster connection through food and community space, the café and food subscription service Nourished Folks is partnering with Wilson’s Grocery & Meat to provide a new pickup location for its subscription meals.
Chef and owner Riah Durick launched Nourished Folks in 2019 as a meal prep service, opening a brick-and-mortar cafè in Greyline Station the following year. While the business o ers a rotating sit-down lunch menu at the northside café on Fridays, its primary focus is a weekly subscription service o ering healthy and satisfying pre-packaged meals for individuals and families who are looking for healthy nourishment while navigating the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Durick describes her vegetable-forward menus as “globally inspired and made from scratch,” with items that tend to focus on rice bowls, salads, soups/ stews and sandwiches. Recent meals on the cafè menu included a rice bowl with yellow rice, onion, red pepper, zucchini and carrots; a kale Caesar salad with hemp hearts and buckwheat; and a green curry soup with rice noodles.
“We simply follow the rules of cooking from scratch,” she said, adding that she avoids using the word healthy, as she feels the term has largely been co-opted by the diet
and fitness industry to promote shame-based eating practices. “Our food ends up naturally feeling good because it is made that way, and we think the body likes to eat it.”
The new partnership with Wilson’s, a neighborhood market on Cramer Avenue in the Kenwick neighborhood recently renovated and reopened by owners Matt and Jill Bastin, o ers a more convenient location for clients who live in the Kenwick, Chevy Chase and downtown areas.
“We want our subscription food to be more accessible to as many great folks in town as possible,” Durick said. “We partner with good friends [to provide] a grassroots location in Southland, and wanted to have a similar community partner approach in Kenwick.”
With a neighborly and convenient atmosphere, she felt the new iteration of Wilson’s would be a perfect fit as a partner, an inkling
that was confirmed during a conversation with the Bastins that tapped in to their shared interest in exploring outside-the-box opportunities to serve their communities as small business owners.
The partnership will allow many of Nourished Folks’ clients a closer place to pick up their subscriptions. “Plus they can grab some other great things that they need in the store while they’re there,” Durick said.
Matt Bastin said the new partnership is a great fit for his business and clientele. Wilson’s o ers a variety of other locally prepared take-home meals, such as pizzas and lasagnas.
“We’re about providing items of established quality and convenience, and Nourished meals take a lot of pressure o of people who want to eat well and support small businesses,” he said.
While large chain grocery stores aren’t
likely to o er meal pickups from local food purveyors, as an independent neighborhood grocery, Wilson’s is able to be more flexible, creative and supportive of other small business owners, he said.
“We can help everyone involved with almost no risk, and it’s the kind of thing that folks have hopefully come to expect from us.”
Having more pickup sites is one step on the journey toward moving into other markets, Durick said. But so far, sticking to slow and calculated growth has worked well.
“Before that happens, we’d like to immerse Lexington in great-tasting food that makes their lives easier, more fulfilled, and be great neighbors in the meantime,” she said. “Finding and partnering with other folks like Wilson’s who make our city rich and wonderful is how we’d love to take this next step in growing so that we can eventually branch out into other markets.” BL
PHOTO FURNISHED
Chef and owner Riah Durick has expanded her meal-prep business, Nourished Folks, to
at Wilson’s Grocery & Meat on Cramer Avenue.
QuickBites
Ranoush Fresh Juices, The Porch country café, and High Proof Hideaway open
BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ranoush Fresh Juices, a new business focusing on both sweet treats and healthy juices, has opened at 2308 Sir Barton Way. Menu items include mini cupcakes, a variety of filled crepes, waffles topped with candies and sweet drizzles, fruit and more. Turkish and other coffee beverages, fresh juices, mocktails, milkshakes, smoothies and ice cream are also served here.
A country café and retail shop called The Porch has opened at 481 Sims Rd. in Georgetown. Located on a five-acre farm, the cafe serves up a variety of biscuit sandwiches, burgers, chicken sandwiches, sides and brunch, as well as coffee-based drinks, lemonade, fruit juice and bakery items. Bath products, candle warmers, floral wreaths and other products are also available in the business’s retail section.
A new bakery on Southland Drive will soon offer cookies that can be enjoyed by anyone, though they’re specifically designed to boost milk supply for lactating mothers. Dubbing the enterprise “the only lactation cookie bakery in Kentucky,” Mercedes Eckman will open The Leaky Momma at 468 Southland Dr. in late July.
Flavors will change seasonally, including S’mores-flavored cookies in the summer, hot chocolate and iced gingerbread flavors around the holidays, red velvet cream cheese glazed cookies in February, and more. Lactation-friendly blondies, granola bites and “smoothie grains” packages, to be added to smoothies at home, will be available as well.
Shamrock Bar & Grille has closed its Hartland location and opened a new one in Brannon Crossing. Like its predecessor, which operated for 17 years, the neighborhood bar offers lunch, dinner, live music, televised sports and trivia. The Irish pub still maintains a location in Patchen Village, as well.
High Proof Hideaway, a new nightlife destination, has opened at 249 W. Short St. The live entertainment, bourbon, sports and late-night eats establishment is located at the former site of Elixir and Parlay Social.
The Wandering Bock, offering authentic German-style soft pretzels and Kentuckystyle beer cheese, has opened in Greyline Station in the space formerly occupied by Rise Up Pizza. Jeremy and Nicole Markle are co-owners and partners in the venture. The business began as part of Julietta Market’s small business incubator. “Before that, we started in 2020 as a small cottage bakery
operating out of our home in Nicholasville,”
Jeremy Markle said.
After a prolonged renovation period that began last year, Genesis Coffee House & Eatery has reopened at 1403 N. Forbes Rd., with a new breakfast, brunch and coffee menu.
Chicago-based Rosati’s Pizza has opened its first Lexington location at 148 Malabu Dr., with a menu featuring pizzas,
calzones, wings, pastas, sandwiches, appetizers, salads and desserts. Its pizzas come in deep-dish, thin crust, double dough and gluten-free options, in restaurant favorite specialty styles or build-your-own with custom toppings. BL
Have a food- or beverage-related update to share? Please email info@smileypete.com.
Ranoush Fresh Juices, 2308 Sir Barton Way, offers a variety of freshly juiced beverages and other items.
PHOTO FURNISHED
IndependentBusiness
Through Art, Opportunity
Student employees at Matchstick Goods learn critical skills while crafting ceramic wares
BY TANZI MERRITT CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Matchstick Goods, an arts-based social enterprise in North Lexington, doesn’t just create beautiful ceramics. Founded in 2020 by Laura Gallaher, executive director of the local youth development along with family support nonprofit Common Good, and a group of Common Good youth participants, Matchstick Goods creates opportunities for northside teens to develop skills and creativity that make them employable while paying a fair wage for their work.
Led by director Dan Fowler, Matchstick Goods now has three permanent employees and a roster of over a dozen former and current student employees who have benefited from mentoring and leadership development provided by the organization.
“The jobs that are available for people entering the workforce are in fast food and movie theaters and things of that nature, so we really wanted to do something that was hands-on and more skill-oriented,” Fowler said of the program’s genesis. We started Matchstick Goods with the intent of hiring kids from Common Good’s after-school and summer programs.”
With that goal in mind, the next step was deciding on a product.
“We have a lot of artistic folks in our community and so we landed on ceramics. It’s an art form but it’s also therapeutic in a lot of ways, and it develops skill and creativity, and those are things we didn’t see represented in opportunities that they had elsewhere. There are a number of steps, therefore lots of ways for students to plug in.”
The students are involved in everything at Matchstick Goods, from deciding what products to offer to designing and making the pieces, including glazing and firing in its two kilns.
“We’re always tweaking our offerings. If something isn’t performing the way that we want it to sales-wise, we take it off the shelves, but we’re always adding products and the students have a hand in that,” Fowler said.
Matchstick Goods has seen a steady increase in the popularity of their products. Not only do they sell items on their website and at its studio space, located inside Embrace Church on North Limestone, they can be found at local art fairs and have standing orders from several area retailers.
“The Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea is where we probably have the most products. We also can be found at Shaker Village and in the VisitLEX gift shop. The Holly Hill Cooking Studio in Versailles sells our work, and Wild Lab Bakery has some pieces as well,” said Fowler.
Additionally, they’ve seen growth in custom work.
Fowler said, “If an individual wants something, we can custom make one item. If a business comes to us and asks for something like mugs with their logo, we can fulfill those larger custom orders as well.”
He continued, “It’s hard to come by customizations for single pieces, but those are fun for our team. We do a lot of high-production stuff — like spending a day making spoon rests or mugs — so custom work lets us get out of that every once in a while and do something different and creative.”
While mugs are a perennial favorite, Fowler says that some of Matchstick Goods’ most popular pieces have been ramen bowls and tortilla warmers. The team also offers cappuccino and espresso cups, pour-over sets, jewelry, yarn bowls, and classic ceramic pieces like soap dishes, planters and plates.
The program runs year-round, with students choosing to participate for a semester or summer, with some staying on for several years. Students work five hours per week during the school year and 20 hours per week in the summer.
Student employees at Matchstick Goods, an arts-based business that grew out of the nonprofit group Common Good, make mugs, jewelry, tortilla warmers and other ceramic wares for sale online and at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea, Shaker Village, the VisitLEX gift shop and other locations.
PHOTOS FURNISHED
Brisa Lopez, a sophomore at Lafayette High School who began working at Matchstick Goods in June 2022, said she appreciates the opportunity to work and learn with friends.
“Learning to work with new people is helpful for the future. I’m constantly improving from feedback,” Lopez said.
Bryan Station High School Sophomore Juvalay Cornelio agrees.
“My favorite part of working at Matchstick Goods is being creative while also working with friends,” Cornelio said. “I have learned how to be part of a team. Teamwork is important here, and learning its value is something I’ll remember in the future.”
Fowler, who has a background in social enterprise work and relocated from New Orleans in 2022 to lead Matchstick Goods, is happy with that decision.
“My favorite thing about being here is easy — the students,” Fowler said. “Some students are here for a semester, and some stay for years. But, even if a student is only here for a semester, it’s incredible to watch their growth. It happens in the blink of an eye. They grow and learn so fast, and being a part of that is really, really rewarding.
“It’s cool to watch our students come here with no employment experience, and no experience, really, with the arts, and then leave here knowing basic skills like how to behave in a professional setting and how to express themselves creatively,” he said. “Those skills are valuable even if they don’t do anything related to the arts in the future. I think this has given every person that’s worked here something that they can take with them.” BL
Ceramic serving sets, yarn bowls, jewelry, and ramen bowls are among the popular items made at Matchstick Goods.
PHOTOS FURNISHED
Live from Lex
Wrigley Media Group touts state-of-the-art facilities and enticing tax incentives to encourage productions to film in Kentucky
BY LIZ CAREY
WRITER
Even from the outside, LEX Studios has the air of something state-of-the-art. Encompassing more than 50,000 square feet of production space, LEX Studios has everything that a movie and television production company could need. From studio space to soundstages to greenrooms and screening areas, the production facility rivals anything one might find in Atlanta, New York, or Chicago.
The goal, owner Misdee Wrigley Miller and studio manager Tim Sabo said, is to provide studio facilities, production and logistical services, and location support for production companies, studios, and filmmak-
ers across the country, and to be the go-to facility for movie and television production outside of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Started four years ago in the former Woodhill Cinemas building on Codell Drive, the studio space held its grand opening in late June. Miller said the facility was created to give production companies an alternative that was on the same level as facilities in cities accustomed to film and television production.
“This place had been abandoned for at least 10 years. It was very scary,” she said. “But it had 40-foot ceilings and was very soundproof. We knew it would work, but we knew that we needed to do it right. When the film incentives got reinstated, I thought, we’ve got these incredible incentives, we’re going to do
everything we can to attract production to come to Kentucky, but we have no soundstages… I found a consultant who had built stages in California. We made the changes to build the size stages we have right now.”
The facility also features offices for all elements of a production, Sabo said.
“We have almost 30 offices here,” he said. “We have multiple productions going on here at one time. A lot of times, you have your production manager and crew over here, and then you have your art directors, makeup, and wardrobe as well. It just works great here because we’ve got the space for them.”
The facility also features dedicated highspeed internet access to ensure production companies can easily transfer files to video editing companies or special effects companies if needed.
Sabo said production companies can rent out space to do pre-production planning, the filming, the location shots, and the screenings all in the same space. By creating a space that is a virtual one-stop shop, he said, the facility hopes to lure filmmakers to the area and to promote Central Kentucky as a filming location. Along with the facility’s sister company, Wrigley Media Group, the studio is already developing content and helping other companies produce films and television shows.
The facility’s attraction goes beyond its
production space, however. Being located in Kentucky makes it a place where production companies can take advantage of film and TV tax incentives.
The Kentucky Entertainment Incentive (KEI) Program, part of the Kentucky Department of Economic Development, provides up to $75 million in tax credits for companies bringing film and television projects to the state. So far this year, the state has approved more than $32 million in tax credits for nearly three dozen productions, including at least eight in Fayette County and the surrounding area.
Among the incentives are a refund of 30 to 35 percent on scripted, unscripted, and reality projects. That tax credit applies to everything from set construction and operations to audio/visual equipment and services and payroll expenditures. Production companies may also be eligible for additional tax credits based on which county they do their production in.
What makes KEI so attractive is that it’s a cash refund instead of a credit, Sabo said. And, he said, the refund applies to all out-ofstate talent and crews, making it very attractive for out-of-state companies. Companies receive a 30 percent tax credit for using out-of-state talent and a 35 percent tax credit for using in-state talent.
PHOTO BY J.A. LAUB PHOTOGRAPHY
From left: Wrigley Media Group CFO Jim Green, CEO Joe Livecchi, owner and CEO Misdee Wrigley Miller and Tim Sabo, studio manager and producer at LEX Studios.
“We’re doing everything in our power to help any companies that come to us see that they can save 30 cents on every dollar,” he said. “We’re just dead set on making sure that when a production is budgeting and thinking about where to film, when they’re looking at Connecticut, New Mexico, Atlanta, they’re also thinking that we’re in that mix, because we’re one of the best incentivized states in the country.”
The goal, Miller and Sabo said, is not just to promote LEX Studios, but to show that Central Kentucky is a great location for filming.
“Almost all of our marketing strategy is twofold — it’s to promote the stages and to promote the state,” Sabo said. “We take the stance that any production that comes to Kentucky is good for everybody.”
Miller said there’s a desire to provide workforce development opportunities as well.
“One of the first things that gets asked of us when productions are looking to come in is ‘What does your crew base look like?’”
Miller said. “It’s not bad. We can pull from Cincinnati and Louisville. But I think more importantly, we need to develop our own robust workforce … that becomes such a great economic driver for Kentucky.”
Sabo said he hopes to further improve entertainment production by fostering bootcamps to help everyone from actors to key grips get their feet wet when it comes to film and television production. LEX Studios also has programs to work with students in Asbury University’s and the University of Kentucky’s film programs.
“We’ve got to expand this out to cover all aspects of production,” he said. “I want to do a soup-to-nuts bootcamp where we take a project, whether it’s a pilot or short film, and throw people into this production, not to make a profit but to teach them. For people that want to be involved in this industry, we’ll have these productions going on where they will be able to get that experience and see what’s going on.” BL
New Kids on the Block
New businesses, farmers market and other developments give new life to the Warehouse Block
BY SHANNON CLINTON, SARAYA BREWER AND TOM WILMES CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
With a handful of new, relocated or expanded businesses and other new developments, the district comprising National Avenue and its surrounding areas known as the Warehouse Block has made significant strides in recent months as one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse mixed-use business and entertainment destinations.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails and dessert are all now on the menu at 819 National Ave., a building that recently housed a CrossFit gym before being divided earlier this year into four separate parcels. The space is now home to new locations for three established local food-and-beverage businesses specializing in BBQ, ice cream and spirits, as well as the first brick-and-mortar storefront for a burgeoning family-owned bakery. Further up the street, the popular brewery Mirror Twin Brewing, a flagship Warehouse Block business since 2016, recently expanded to welcome a new taproom and event/meeting space to its operations.
Other new developments to the Warehouse Block include the recent opening of the Tuesday/
Thursday Lexington Farmers Market, which moved to National Avenue from its longtime home on Maxwell/Broadway in June, and the district’s recent designation as an Entertainment District Center (EDC). Designed to increase commerce between entertainment businesses that are located in close proximity, the EDC designation allows patrons to consume alcoholic beverages in common areas (i.e., outdoors within the bounds of the designated EDC zone), or to carry beverages purchased at one licensed business in the district to another.
The farmers market location is situ-
ated on a concrete slab adjacent to a former grain building, where materials were once offloaded from freight trains along the abandoned rail line bordering Winchester Road — a historic location that has been a unique waypoint for the neighborhood for several decades, and one that Warehouse Block developer Chad Walker says will now serve as both a historic and symbolic marker for the farmers market.
“With the location situated on a nearly perfect north, south, east and west orientation, the design will incorporate an acknowledgment of our agricultural neighbors in Woodford County, Bourbon County, Jessamine County and Clark County,” Walker said. Future plans for the site include significant improvements to the parking lot, incorporating green space, a possible children’s play space and a general public outdoor-use space which will double as an occasional event stage.
All of these developments contribute to a vision that Walker’s family-run development company Walker Properties has been working toward since 1986, when his father, company founder Randy Walker, purchased his first property in the area at 333 National Avenue. Walker Properties has now overseen the revitalization of dozens of buildings along the corridor, which includes a vibrant mix of businesses, from restaurants, bars and breweries to boutiques, fitness centers, office spaces and industrial workshops.
With a focus on recruiting unique, complementary businesses, and rehabilitating historic buildings rather than razing them, the district has evolved into a bustling entertainment destination over the past four decades while staying true to its historic industrial roots.
The development process is one that Chad Walker says has been slow and deliberate, bolstered by a series of milestones along the way.
“We didn’t have the ability to just go into
the neighborhood and buy it all up at once, so it’s been a slow, organic growth,” he said. “Each little metamorphosis has been a definitive point. It’s been fun to watch.”
Walker stated that he sees the recent developments as the “last big chunk that needs to be done” — although he did seem reticent to fully commit to the notion.
“I keep wondering if it’s time to Etch-aSketch and start over,” he said with a laugh. “But I’m going to be 50 this year so I don’t know if I’ve got enough time.”
Here’s a look at some of the new and recently relocated or expanded businesses along National Avenue:
Blue Door Smokehouse
After more than a four-month hiatus, the sweet, meaty smoke is billowing once again at Blue Door Smokehouse. The popular BBQ restaurant reopened at its new location at 819 National Ave., Ste. 140, in April, after vacating its longtime home on the corner of Walton and Aurora Avenues.
Owner Jeff Newman described April 12, Blue Door’s first day back open, as “a magical, and honestly emotional experience.”
“We were as busy as we could handle and it was such a joy to see so many familiar faces and see the excitement that Lexington had for our reopening,” he said. “It was nearly a record-breaking day for us and every day since has been busier than we could have imagined.”
The move into the extensively renovated new space is allowing the restaurant to reach its full potential, Newman said, and having a fun and eclectic assortment of newly opened food- and beverage-oriented neighbors doesn’t hurt either.
“Our neighbors are amazing, and I feel so blessed and fortunate that all of us assembled there because we all complement each other, and I think we are uplifting each other naturally and organically without having to try too hard,” Newman said.
WALKER
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
The popular BBQ eatery Blue Door Smokehouse relocated to National Avenue from its longtime Walton Avenue location.
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
Mirror Twin Brewery has expanded to open a new taproom and event space, called Mirror Twin Annex, across the street from its original location.
Mirror Twin Annex
Ever since its opening on National Ave. in 2016, Mirror Twin Brewing Co. has been a cornerstone of the burgeoning Warehouse Block. As the district has grown, so has Mirror Twin, with expansions including a neighboring craft beer and cocktail lounge in 2018, along with a beer garden in between that was opened out of necessity during the pandemic and remains a popular gathering spot.
More recently, the craft brewery opened the Mirror Twin Annex. Located across the street at 730 National Ave. and previously home to Myriad Meadery (which was also operated by Mirror Twin), the space has been transformed to meet the growing demand for private events at the brewery.
“It’s not feasible to close down one side of the two main buildings for private events, so we transitioned the meadery into an event space by opening up the walls and adding tables and seating,” said Derek DeFranco, Mirror Twin co-owner and director of brewing operations.
The annex can accommodate groups of up to 100 people, with available packages including options like an open bar and catering from Rolling Oven pizzeria. When not hosting events, the annex is open to the public serving cocktails and Mirror Twin beers from 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to midnight Saturdays and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays.
Partnering with Rolling Oven to open a wood-fired pizzeria in the brewery’s taproom has equally benefited both businesses, DeFranco said. “It’s a very synergistic relationship.” Complementary food-andbeverage related businesses like The Void Sake Co. and Blue Door Smokehouse locating in the area are also welcome additions, he said, as are recent developments such as an entertainment district designation and the weekday farmers market relocating to the block.
“It’s a lot like how the Distillery District evolved,” DeFranco said, referring to a bustling stretch of Manchester Street filled with bars, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. “The more attractions that locate here, the more reason people have to come down and hang out.”
Sav’s Gourmet Ice Cream
Mamadou “Sav” Savané closed his East Main Street restaurant in 2022, focusing on growing his ice cream, piment habanero sauce and vinaigrette brands to get them on local stores’ shelves.
He and his wife, Rachel Savané, also spent winter months in Sav’s native Guinea, West Africa. In warmer months, Sav operated his food truck, the Chill Wagon, at area festivals and events and catered other events by request.
Now it’s time for a new chapter at 819 National Ave., Ste. 130, with Sav’s Gourmet Ice Cream having recently reopened in a space nestled between Blue Door Smokehouse and Void Sake Bar.
“After a year of few business responsibilities, I felt the need to do more,” Savané said. “That’s when I got the idea to open another ice cream store. Chad Walker offered me a great location on National Avenue, expressing his interest in ice cream. I knew then that was the right direction to take.”
The shop will initially feature 20 flavors, some rotating seasonally like Pumpkin and Hot Chocolate. Customer favorites like Spanish Peanut Butter, Lavender, and Hot Banana will return, and each can be served in a cup, cone, milkshake or pint, and with additional toppings like sprinkles and nuts.
Sav’s Piment and Vinaigrette will be sold at the shop, which will also feature drinks like Beesop hibiscus tea and JinJon ginger juice soon.
Sav said joining the Warehouse Block means becoming part of “an exciting place where creativity and entrepreneurship flourish, creating a sense of togetherness and shared accomplishments.”
The Void Sake Co.
Kentucky’s first and only craft sake brewery has expanded into a new home: a 2,300 square-foot taproom that doubles as a small event venue at 819 National Avenue. The space features a small stage, full bar, patio space and retractable garage doors that stay open during nice weather.
With a regular schedule of events, including yoga, trivia, live music and open-air markets, the venue is building on the loyal following that it had amassed at its previous location, a small, 800-square-foot taproom on the 900 block of National Avenue that opened in 2021. In addition to more space, the bar’s offerings have expanded to include craft beer, wine, sake-based slushie drinks, and a full array of liquor selections, including Japanese whiskies. Kowai, a Japanese fusion food truck permanently parked in the parking lot, offers sustenance in the form of rice bowls, snacks and sandwiches.
But sake, of course, remains the star of the show. Owners Justin LeVaughn, Brandon Floan, Joe Rice and Steven Skeens all have backgrounds in craft beer and follow the guiding principle of “where American craft meets Japanese tradition” with their product, which is brewed down the street in the original National Avenue location.
The extensive sake selections include traditional Japanese styles like junmai (clear and crisp) and nigori (cloudy and generally a bit sweeter), as well as an array of unique and interesting flavors — Tangerine Creamsicleand Horchata-flavored sakes are popular menu mainstays. The brewery also offers a rotating selection of seasonal flavors such as Toasted Coconut, Banana Pudding and Blackberry Tea. House-made flavored sake seltzers are also available at the bar and by the can.
“We come from a craft brewing background, which is full of bold and unique and
interesting flavors, so we focus on flavors and styles that are American-centric in terms of their palates, while also trying to cater to more traditional Japanese styles as well,” LeVaughn said. “It’s a very niche product so education is going to be very important.”
Being nearly triple the size of its former home, and closer to the increasing action on National Avenue, the new space has provided increased traffic and opportunities for the burgeoning business.
“The idea is to expand with different more traditional styles and also more flavored stuff — to just keep doing what we’re doing, just more of it,” LeVaughn said.
Wild Lab Bakery
A family-owned and formerly home-based cottage bakery has risen to the challenge of opening a new storefront at 819 National Ave., Ste. 110.
Specializing in naturally-leavened sourdough artisan bread, Wild Lab Bakery is owned by Chapi Johnson and Andrew McGraw. The couple produces small-batch
sourdough loaves, ciabatta, focaccia, bagels and heirloom grain cookies, available 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday or until they’re sold out. The storefront also offers a small selection of handcrafted goods, including hand towels, ceramic planters, t-shirts, quilted bags and aprons.
Johnson said she loves having their storefront in such a bustling neighborhood with plenty of foot traffic.
“We are so excited and honored to be a part of new additions to the Warehouse Block,” Johnson said. “It has been a wonderful experience opening our new storefront alongside The Void, Sav’s and Blue Door. All the small businesses in the neighborhood have been very encouraging and supportive.”
Johnson added that being a business within the Warehouse Block feels like being a part of a community of hard-working people who believe in their craft, much like being part of local farmers markets.
“I think we all try to send customers to each other not only to build a stronger local economy but because we all like each other,” she said. BL
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
Sav’s Gourmet Ice Cream opened a new storefront on National Avenue in May.
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
Kentucky’s first craft sake brewery has expanded with a new taproom and event space on National Avenue.
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
Chapi Johnson (left) and Andrew McGraw opened the first brick-and-mortar location for Wild Lab Bakery, which they previously operated out of their home.
Please email questions regarding our
Audio/Visual Companies
Central Kentucky companies listed unranked June 2024
46Solutions
657 Blue Sky Parkway Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 237-7621 46Solutions.com
Audio Visual Techniques 905 Georgetown St. Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 254-8954 avtav.com
Barney Miller’s 232 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 252-2216 barneymillers.com
BlueGrass Home Entertainment 1047 Contract St. Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 253-3454 bghe.com
Hammond Communications Group, Inc. 2321 Maggard Drive Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 254-1878 hammondcg.com
MSI Production Services 2330 Fortune Drive, Ste. 180 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 264-9496 msiproductions.com
Pinnacle Productions
620 W. Main St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 358-7370 pinnacleproductions.com
Rockstar Home Systems 524 Lagonda Ave. Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 983-0836 rockstarhs.com
Corporate A/V: lighting control, wireless microphones, motorized window shades, video conferencing systems, projection systems, video walls, digital signage; Home A/V: outdoor A/V, surround sound installation, smart home automation, lighting control systems, home theater systems, television and projector installation, home audio systems, motorized shades
A/V equipment rental; event audio, video, lighting and staging; event production and technical coordination; audio and video production; audio and video duplication; media transfers, PowerPoint-on-Demand
Corporate A/V: audio/video conferencing systems, projection systems, display systems, digital whiteboards, sound masking, multi-room music; Home A/V: home theater systems, television and projector installation, multi-room music systems, lighting control systems, motorized shades, outdoor A/V, home theater and media room furnishings
Corporate A/V: Bar and restaurant audio systems, retail audio systems, digital signage, lighting control, video projection, audio/video conferensing systems, house of worship A/V and lighting; Home A/V: home audio systems, television and projector installation, mirror televisions, home theater systems, motorized shades, smart home systems, outdoor A/V, home theater and media room furnishings, acoustic panels
Full-service event production; content delivery via streaming, broadcast, FTP, and satellite; digital signage; interactive touchscreen kiosks; responsive website and user interface design; custom graphics and animation
Turnkey A/V production for events, including audio, video, and lighting; venue staging and production; live web casting; teleprompters; set design; special e ects; equipment rental
On-location video production and event live streaming; professional lighting and audio support; commercial video production; video editing; audio recording, mixing, and mastering; sound design; voiceover services; digital audio restoration
Full-service event audio, video, and lighting production Home theater and media room systems; television and projector installation; multi-room music systems; multi-room video; lighting control systems; motorized shades; outdoor A/V; hidden audio and video; smart home automation; acoustics
Home theater and media room systems; smart home automation; television and projector installation; home audio systems;
Kentucky River Authority Lock and Dam renovations; KYTC’s Bridging Kentucky; LFUCG’s Sanitary Sewer Capacity Insurance Program,; LFUCG’s Evaluation of Exactions Program; Greyline Station stormwater improvements and rainwater harvesting system; KYTC statewide bridge inspections; statewide Kentucky flood mapping program; US 68/KY 4 double crossover diamond interchange; KDOW Dam Safety Hazard Mitigation Program
Bluegrass Airport; KYTC; LFUCG; RJ Corman; Kentucky American Water; LG&E and KU; Louisville MSD; Northern Kentucky Water District; Sanitation District No. 1; Berea College, McDonald’s
University of Kentucky; Fayette County Public Schools; Eastern Kentucky University; Northern Kentucky University; Morehead State University; Baptist Health; Bon Secours Mercy Health
LFUCG; Keeneland; Berea College; McDonald’s; KYTC; Commonwealth of Kentucky; Louisville MSD; Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport; Northern Kentucky Water District; Sanitation District No. 1; cities of Ashland, Frankfort, Jeffersontown, Nicholasville, Versailles
University of Kentucky; Transylvania University; Eastern Kentucky University; Alltech; Beam Suntory; Baptist Health; University of Louisville Hospital; University of Kentucky Medical Center; Lexington Public Library; Scott County Schools; Madison County Schools
University of Kentucky; Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government; Winchester Municipal Utlilties; Richmond Utilities; Berea Municipal Utilities; City of Somerset; City of Hopkinsville; Ale-8-One; Sherwin-Williams; PepsiCo
AppHarvest (Berea, Somerset, Morehead, Richmond); Alltech; Envision Contractors - Home2 Suites; LFUCG; City of Berea; Thoroughbred Hospitality GroupHampton Inn Brannon Crossing; Building God’s Way; Morning Pointe Senior Living Center
Fayette County Public Schools; Jefferson County Public Schools; Little Sandy Correctional Facility; Scott County Schools; Eastern Kentucky University; University of Kentucky; Transylvania University; Beam Suntory; Brown Forman; Michter’s Distillery; Lexington Public Library; Appalachian Rgional Healthcare; Norton Healthcare
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet; Commonwealth of Kentucky; Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government; Keeneland; Beaumont; Hamburg/ Tuscany; Amazon/Exeter Eqt.; Newmarket/Homeplace; Andover; Ball Development; Whitaker Land Co.
“The Legacy” Event Center at Log Still Distillery; Buffalo Trace Distillery Mash House; Zeochem laboratory and office building; Denny Crum Residence Hall at University of Louisville; Eminence High School Gymnasium; Grocers Ice Lofts; Norton Brownsboro Hospital
Stormwater projects; phase I and II environmental assessments; coal and aggregate mining plans and permits; Cumulative Impact Assessments; DOE projects; subsidence investigations; Seal Constructions Certification; industrial environmental compliance Harrison County High School; Community Trust Bank; Harlan County Public Schools; Knox County Public Schools; City of Elsmere Police Station/City Hall; Sanitation District 4; Southeast Community and Technical College 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 10 11 11 11
Summit Architects + Engineers 3205 Summit Square Place Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 264-9860 summit-ae.com
Jason Maxwell, PE (Principal/Office Leader)/ Glenn Hardin, PE (VP)/ Bret Lavey, PE, ENV SP (Senior Principal, Operations Leader)/ Adam Grace, PE (Senior Principal)/ Daniel Gilbert, PE (VP)/ John Montgomery, PE (Senior VP)/ Tony Hunley, Phd, PE (VP)/ Richard Sutherland, PE (VP)
Ben Edelen, PE (Senior VP, Department Manager)/ R. Larry Anderson, PE (VP)/ Brent A. Tippey. PE (VP)
Kevin Mussler, PE (VIce President)
Chris Hammer, PE (President and COO)
Michael Patterson (President, Lexington Office)/ Casey Dunn (CEO)
Dan Kubican (President); Jeff Alexy (Principal); Brian McMillan (Principal); Adam Ray (Principal)
Kelly G. Gillespie (President)/ James K. Roberts, PE, PLS (Executive VP)/ John D. Prince (VP)/ Stephen H. Caudill, PE (VP)/ David S. Schrader, PE (VP)/ Robert L. Pickerill (VP)
Darren Croucher, PE (CEO)/ Jon Hale, PE (Executive VP)/ Jeff Garrison, PE (COO)/ Jordan Haney, PE (GPM)/ Ron Hargett (Principal)/ Aaron Bivens (Principal)
E. Tyler Wilson, PE (Principal)/ Ralph Whitley, PE (Principal)/ Whitley Casey, PE (Principal)/ James Troutman, PE (Principal)/ Robbie Bottoms, PE (Principal)/ Nick Morgan, PE (Principal)
Albert W. Gross, PE, PLS (Managing Partner)/ Leslie M. Haney, PE, PLS (Managing Partner)/ Tom Hatfield, PE, PLS (Partner)/ Rick Nunnery, PE, PLS (Partner)/ Eric Hackworth, PE, PTOE, RSP1, LSIT (Partner)/ Clive Weller, PE, PTOE (Partner)/ Marc Wirtzberger, PE (Partner)
Greg Buccola, PE, SE (Managing Principal)
Karen Rose (Industrial Compliance Engineering Manager)/ Charles Bishop, PE (Consulting Engineer)/ Jack W. Griffin, PE (Senior Engineer)/ Doug Mynear, PE (Consulting Engineer)
D. Scott Noel, Assoc. AIA (President/CEO)/ Mike Hill, PE (Director/VP)/ Steven Maggard, PE (VP)
BizLexQ&A
Chris Blandford
Kroger’s wine and spirits expert on the bourbon business and why you might soon see more of your favorites on store shelves
BY TOM WILMES BUSINESS LEXINGTON
As the adult beverage field specialist for Kroger’s Louisville division, Chris Blandford oversees beer, wine, and spirits for roughly 114 grocery stores and 58 stand-alone liquor stores throughout Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois. “Everything from buying to helping with pricing, inventory and merchandising, stocking, and events — a little bit of everything,” he said.
In addition to appearances at events including Bourbon and Beyond and the Crave Food and Music festival, Blandford launched the Firkin Podcast in 2023, where he interviews distillers, chefs, bartenders, entrepreneurs and others about the spirits industry. He also co-founded and curates the Ultimate Bourbon Auction to End Hunger.
Business Lexington caught up with Blandford on a recent morning — he was headed to the James B. Beam Distilling Co. to select several barrels of Knob Creek for Kroger stores later that day — to discuss the bourbon business, staying ahead of trends and why supply may be catching up with demand.
After years of growth where demand continued to outpace supply for certain bourbons, some recent reports indicate a slowdown. What are you seeing? I think the bourbon landscape is extremely healthy. I read something the other day where people were like, “Oh, bourbon is down,” but is it really down, or did COVID spur on something where distillers were already straining to get product onto the shelf and make people want it even more? I don’t want to say on the regular, but we are starting to see case stacks of items like Buffalo Trace and Henry McKenna hit the floors again. This is what everybody wanted five or so years ago, and now we’re trying to give it to them.
I got into this, unknowingly, right at the beginning of the bourbon boom. We had probably more than any other state on the shelves, but it wasn’t a huge commodity. Now it’s just massive. In certain stores, you can walk in and be overwhelmed with the amount of bourbon choices that you have. It was maybe 10 years or so ago I was in a seminar with [Buffalo Trace master distiller] Harlan Wheatley and he said, ‘I know you guys want everything right now, but eventu-
ally we’re going to get to a point where I’m going to be asking you to take it,’ and I think we are getting to this point. We’re seeing a lot more stuff hit the shelves, and I could not be happier about it.
How does forecasting factor into your job and keeping the shelves stocked with what people want? That is the hard-
est question. I’ll look at how the market is trending, I read all the newsletters and I do my own research online and just seeing what people are drinking, but it’s tough. I mean, who would have thought that seltzers and RTDs [ready-to-drink cocktails] would take off like they have?
What is spurring everything for me right now is making sure that the price point is
right for the customer. There’s so much overwhelming choice now — and so many great bottles on the shelf — but when we get into those high price point bottles, you’re talking about a different customer base. I think a lot of my Kroger customers want to be able to get the bottle they want at a reasonable price. We also need to make sure that distillers have the production to be able to keep their items in stock. We have a large market here in Kentucky. If I’m going to give something new a try, I don’t want to bring in just 15 or 20 cases and hope. I need to make sure that we can supply customers if it takes off and everybody wants it.
How do barrel picks factor in and what’s the scope of Kroger’s single-barrel program? The single-barrel program is an absolute blast. I hand select probably 80 to 90 percent of the single barrels that you see throughout Kentucky and in some of the other states, as well. We’ll take all those single barrels and split them up among the entire state. We send everything across the state, from Russell Springs to Middletown to Beaumont to Georgetown — everyone will see single barrels of some type.
I always pick blind. I don’t want to know anything about the bourbon because that information will absolutely sway me. I pick purely on taste, and I’ll write down my notes as I’m going through, but I’ll save those until the end because I also don’t want to influence any of the other people who are tasting with me that day. Everybody in the room gets a vote. If there’s a barrel that’s different and strikes my fancy, I might give it my “Chris’ Pick” logo, but if the majority picks something else, I’m going with the majority because that’s the public.
And you’ve found some ways to do good with bourbon? I started the Ultimate Bourbon Auction to End Hunger years back, and we’ve so far raised over a million dollars for Dare to Care in Louisville and God’s Pantry in Lexington. Kroger has given me this amazing runway to be able to take a lot of these allocated bourbons — Kroger pays for every single one of those — and auction them off during this amazing auction that happens in November right around Black Friday. We raised $388,000 last year, just from whiskey. Isn’t that wild? There are a lot of problems in the world, but food shouldn’t be one of them. No one should go to bed hungry. BL
PHOTO FURNISHED
Chris Blandford oversees beer, wine, and spirits for Kroger’s Louisville division, which includes stores throughout Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois.
Who’sWho
New Hires, Promotions & Appointments
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival welcomed Chris Morris (Brown-Forman), Trevor Bowles (Maker’s Mark) and Stacey Phelps (Bardstown Tourism) to its board of directors. These additions to the board follow the election of Cordell Lawrence (Eastern Light Distilling) to board chair earlier this year.
Traditional Bank has promoted Chas Sargent to chief financial officer (CFO) following the recent retirement of Mike Hendrix, who served as the bank’s CFO for 28 years.
Colin Buckner has joined McBrayer’s Lexington office as an associate. Alison Begor SHRM-SCP, joined the firm’s Lexington office as the chief human resources officer.
Marty L. Sutherland, professor of engineering and electronics technology at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, was selected the new occupational, technical education faculty regent to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System board of regents.
CHI Saint Joseph Health has named Christy Spitser as the interim market president, replacing Anthony Houston, Ed.D., FACHE.
The League of Women Voters of Kentucky has elected the following new directors for the coming year: Julie Kugler-Ackley (Crescent Springs), co-chair communications committee; Karen Brown (Union), membership chair; Verna Cahoon (Louisville), education chair; Nikki Chambers (Hopkinsville), natural resources chair; Elizabeth Hawks (Wingfield); and Laura Weinstein (Louisville), voter services chair.
Fayette County Public Schools announced that Matt Noblin has been selected as next principal of Sandersville Elementary School.
CLARK Material Handling announced the promotions of Anthony Nash to vice president of manufacturing, and Dan Kaiser to vice president of finance.
The Asbury University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has named Randy Crist as new head coach of men’s and women’s track and field.
Valvoline Inc. recently promoted Amanda Potts, director, franchise marketing; James Weitlauf, director, application development;
and Nicole Ewing, director, integrated channel marketing.
KPFF Consulting Engineers has announced the opening of its Lexington office under the leadership of Chris Day, PE, who will be delivering on a commitment to structural engineering excellence within the region.
Haymaker Company announced the addition of Jack Hamilton as a sales/leasing associate.
Bluegrass Realtors® has named Richard Gibbens as the new CEO for the association and Imagine MLS in Lexington.
Kentucky Christian University announced the appointment of Ricky Kempton as the new head bass fishing coach.
Owen County Circuit Court Clerk Margaret Forsee has been chosen by her colleagues to lead the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks.
Patrice Perlman has joined Pella Corporation as trade sales representative.
Kudos
Frontier Nursing University will hold its 14th annual Diversity Impact Conference on July 18-19. The event, being held on Zoom, brings together renowned thought leaders addressing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the healthcare workforce, particularly for those working in underserved and rural communities.
Commerce Lexington announced its recognition in the Business Facilities 2024 Economic Development Organization Awards for its dedication to fostering public and private collaboration in support of Greater Lexington’s first-ever Regional Competitiveness Plan. The plan is a collaborative effort aimed at making the 9-county Bluegrass Region more competitive for jobs and talent by focusing on 7-action items over the next 3-5 years.
Commonwealth Credit Union has been named a Best Place to Work in Kentucky by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. This marks the sixth consecutive recognition for Commonwealth Credit Union, earning a spot in this year’s top 20.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton announced that 15 grassroots organizations active in violence prevention are receiving grants from
One Lexington. The following organizations, all providing a variety of approaches to helping young people, received funding: Charlotte Court Inc. (CCI); Community Inspired Solutions; Exhilarating Inc.; FoodChain Inc.; HEARTS for Basketball; Casa de la Cultura Hispana de Lexington; Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families; Kentucky Foundation for Black Women and Families; Lexington Raven Football; Lexington Leadership Foundation; Lexington Rescue Mission; MPower Rhythm; NAMI Kentucky; Operation Making A Change (OMAC); Resolve Fitness; and Trauma Informed Counseling Center (TICC).
Town Branch Commons, a city project led by Gresham Smith engineers, and based upon SCAPE Landscape Architecture’s design concept, has received the National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies 2024 Engineering Excellence Awards competition. This is the third national award the project has received.
The Chambers USA guide, rankers of the top law firms and leading attorneys in the U.S., selected the following Lexington Stites & Harbison attorneys as leaders in their field for Kentucky: Bankruptcy/Restructuring – Chrisandrea L. Turner; Environment, Natural Resources & Utilities: – William T. Gorton III; Intellectual Property – Mandy Wilson Decker and Warren D. Schickli
Stites & Harbison, PLLC also announced it ranked in the Top 20 “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” for 2024 in the medium company category. The firm has made the list 18 times — 10 of those in the Top 10. “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” is hosted by the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management in conjunction with The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Managing Intellectual Property magazine has named nine Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys to the 2024 “IP Stars” list. The following Lexington attorneys were included: Mandy
Bluegrass Care Navigators announced the receiving of a generous grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels to purchase four portable oxygen concentrators. These essential medical supplies will bring comfort and ease to hospice patients.
Kentucky’s Joy Ride campaign has won a silver ADDY on the national level in the American Advertising Federation’s ADDY Awards for its illustrated poster campaign. Kentucky advertising agency COOMER created the Joy Ride campaign which encourages out-ofstate travelers to explore the backroads and visit the small towns in the Bluegrass region.
Alice Lloyd College and Asbury University both announced a partnership with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System that will help community college students transfer to the university to earn a bachelor’s degree. The agreement means that the institutions are committed to a seamless transfer experience and providing necessary student support for a successful experience.
Envisage Wealth Advisors congratulates Adam Howard, CFP®, on attaining the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™️ certification.
After eight years of dedicated service, executive director Bill Goodman has announced his retirement from Kentucky Humanities, an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Kentucky APEX Accelerator announced the recent graduates of the 2024 Construction Diversity Accelerator. Graduates from Lexington were as follows: Quaynell King, Stevies Repair Solutions; Deron Seals, Elaine Allen; Andre Wilson, DAW Cleaning Services; and Justin Young, Done It All Construction. Brooke Taylor of ACE Consulting Company in Nicholasville was also a graduate. BL
Wilson Decker, Warren D. Schickli, Patrick M. Torre, and Michael S. Hargis
craft beers & cocktails • food trucks • family & kid area
crave kitchen stage hosted by the food network's jason smith
performing live on the crave music stage
abby hamilton • 10 foot pole • brother smith
the swells • baja yetis • debraun thomas • bedford
movie jail • them lasses • rough customers • voodoo dolls TICKETS
GRASSROOTS BLACK LEADERSHIP AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 HONOREES!
The Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative, a community-advised committee of Blue Grass Community Foundation, is once again celebrating Black community members who are leading positive change with its 2024 class of Grassroots Black Leadership Awards honorees.
This award was initiated in 2021 to celebrate and invest in individuals on the frontlines leading the vital work of addressing racial equity, disparities in the Black community and social justice across Lexington.
Read more about inspiring work of Rosz, Father Norman and LeTonia at bgcf.org/GBLA.
from left:
Dr. Roszalyn Akins, Fr. Norman Fischer, LeTonia A. Jones
