Lexington is getting its first taste of CAVA, with the Mediterranean fast-casual chain filing permits to open two restaurants in the city — one in the Hamburg shopping center and another at The Summit at Fritz Farm. It will mark the chain’s debut in Kentucky.
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, CAVA has filed a permit to open a 3,200-square-foot restaurant at 2305 Sir Barton Way in the Hamburg shopping center, taking over the former Joella’s Hot Chicken space next to BD’s Mongolian Grill. The chain did not immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for additional restaurant details. Hamburg developer Patrick Madden told the Herald-Leader the location is expected to open in spring 2027.
Joella’s Hot Chicken closed its Sir Barton Way restaurant in February, while the Indianapolis Business Journal reported the closure of Joella’s Broad Ripple restaurant. Joella’s had previously operated five Kentucky locations before scaling back. The Hamburg storefront itself sits within a 1-million-square-foot shopping center built on land originally established in 1898 as a historic thoroughbred horse farm named for a champion stallion sold by horse trainer John E. Madden, per Wikipedia.
A Second Lexington Spot Takes Shape at Fritz Farm
CAVA has also filed a permit for a second Lexington restaurant at 4049 Finn Way at The Summit at Fritz Farm, located just off Nicholasville Road and Man o’ War Boulevard, the Herald-Leader reports. A spokeswoman for Fritz Farm was not able to say when that location is expected to open. A $14.1 million retail expansion adding more than 30,000 square feet of commercial space along Rowan, Finn, and Harrison streets was scheduled to begin in March, following developer Hendricks Commercial Properties’ acquisition of the center in May 2025…