After six Lexington restaurants closed in the past seven weeks, we asked Kentucky.com readers for their thoughts about what’s happening.
They were not shy about sharing why they are eating out less: Higher prices, unexciting choices, dampened appetites for food and alcohol due to GLP1s, and just too many restaurants were consistent themes among the many thoughtful responses.
Here’s what our readers said:
Downtown Lexington in trouble
“This should be a major red flag for our city,” wrote Erin Goins, who operates the Bites of the Bluegrass walking tours that visit local restaurants and bars. “It’s devastating to see locally owned businesses closing their doors. These places are more than storefronts — they’re part of what gives our downtown its personality, its culture, and its sense of community.”
She succinctly outlined many issues that business owners are facing: Higher rents, higher food and supply costs. Parking challenges. And, of course, repercussions of the pandemic…