Lexington's iconic Parkette Drive-In closes

Jun. 29—After more than seven decades, an iconic Lexington restaurant has served up its final "Poor Boy."

Employees — and the current lease holders — of The Parkette Drive-In were informed Tuesday evening of the decision to immediately close the historic business.

The restaurant has operated at the same location — 120 E. New Circle Road — since it opened on Nov. 11, 1951; the establishment has also featured its signature neon sign since 1957.

"Time has passed this place by," Bryan Tipton, son-in-law of the restaurant's founder, Joe Smiley, said on Tuesday.

The decision to close the business was difficult for Tipton and his family.

Tipton's wife, Melissa, is the daughter of Joe Smiley, who passed away on June, 27, 2001. Smiley's wife, Praley, is the current owner and has leased the restaurant to several people over the years.

"This is tough on our family, especially Melissa," Tipton said of the closing of Parkette.

Humble beginnings

Smiley moved to Lexington from West Virginia and opened the restaurant long before the creation of New Circle Road. On opening night, a rainstorm hit Lexington and the owner hired tow truck drivers in case any of the customers got stuck in the mud. There were no paved roads leading up to the establishment at that time.

The entrepreneur had a simple business philosophy — offer good food at good prices.

Smiley brought the "Poor Boy" with him from West Virginia and the restaurant sold more than 19.2 million of the double-decker hamburgers in its first four decades of operation.

In addition to the "Poor Boy," the Parkette Drive-In was also the first business to use the label, "Kentucky Fried Chicken," which prompted a legal battle for rights to the term.

Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, who bought the KFC franchise from Colonel Harlan Sanders, sued Smiley over the use of the name.

The Parkette Drive-In owner won the case and later sold the rights to Brown.

Smiley was also a pastor. He founded the Smiley Memorial Country Church — which he dedicated to his his first wife, who died following a car crash — held several fishing world records and was also heavily involved in fast-pitch men's softball around Lexington and the state.

The Parkette Drive-In was so successful when it opened that a second location was launched in 1957 on Georgetown Road. It was sold in 1966.

The business remained popular through the 1990s and early 2000s, with several prominent local leaders being part of the ownership group, including Alan Stein and former Lexington Vice Mayor Mike Scanlon.

Modern times

In 2008, a major renovation took place, which included a new indoor seating area.

"That saved Parkette for a few more years," Tipton said of the investment in the property.

It couldn't, though, save it long-term.

The business still did well during the summer months, but struggled the rest of the year.

"A lot of people in Lexington like to talk about Parkette, but they don't actually go to the Parkette anymore," Tipton said. "It's a tough thing, but it just can't keep losing money."

Tipton is still working on what to to do with the property and said several nearby business are interested in part, or all, of the multi-acre lot.

Whatever happens, however, Tipton is determined to save the Parkette's iconic sign — whether its kept as is, as a tribute, or reworked and incorporated into a new business, as a show of respect to the history of the property.

"We want to save it, if that is possible," Tipton said of the sign.

Whatever happens next, for many, the property will always spark memories of "Poor Boys," the inspirational religious quotes on the drive-in's gigantic sign, the Smiley family, and an era which continues to fade into history.

"It's not a sad day," Tipton said. "It's a good day."