The Ketch restaurant update: New name, new owners, what they have planned

Janet Patton
·2 min read

The Ketch Seafood Grill, known for decades as one of Lexington’s best places for seafood, is getting a massive makeover under its new owners — renovation and a new name.

But before that, the local restaurant, which closed July 24, is having a memorabilia sale on Saturday July 29, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the building at 2012 Regency Rd. in the Southland neighborhood. And you can also pick up beer cheese and other grab and go items for one final taste.

Longtime owner Art Howard, who sold the restaurant this month, will be on hand to say goodbye, too.

However, the restaurant apparently won’t be closed for long.

According to building owner Mike Hart, who is working with the buyers, the restaurant hopes to reopen in September before the Keeneland Fall Meet.

Who are the new owners of The Ketch restaurant?

Howard and Hart said they are a group of local entrepreneurs who are very interested in the Southland business scene.

According to an ad for the liquor license, they include Lexington residents Ryan Foster, Johnny Bruce, Christopher Fitzwater, James Crowe, Todd White, Ted Mims, Matthew Helgerson, and two other names, Magnolia Investments Corp., which lists Derrick Harris as president, and Brett LLC, which lists Brett Bussell as member.

Foster is involved, along with Bruce and other investors, in Clubhouse, the dance club on South Limestone, which is now the new Two Keys Tavern. Foster and Bruce also are investors in KSBar & Grille, the sports bar on South Broadway opened by Matt Jones and the crew of Kentucky Sports Radio. Jones is not an investor in The Ketch.

What will the restaurant be called? Will it change?

Foster said they haven’t decided on exactly what the name will be but that “Ketch” will be part of it.

Hart said that the new owners plan to emphasize the bar’s patio in the remodel, which also will include redoing the bathrooms, roof and much more.

“We’re excited to be part of it,” said Foster, one of the new owners. He said most of the partners live in the neighborhood and were regulars at the restaurant. “We’re only going to be improving on what’s there. The menu will have very few changes, the name will remain close to the same, we plan to reopen in a few months and we will try to retain as many current staff members as possible.”