Several beloved Lexington restaurants have closed in recent months, and local business leaders say rising costs, changing consumer behavior, and out-of-state developers are making it harder for eateries to survive.
The closures include Tolly Ho and Zim’s Cafe in December, The Goose and Dingbat’s Pizza on Jefferson Street, and most recently Joella’s Hot Chicken and Big City Pizza in Hamburg.
According to the Consumer Price Index, food away from home is up 4% from January 2025 to January 2026, squeezing both restaurant-goers and owners…