O’Charley’s Richmond Road closed restaurant demolished but two new dining spots coming

Janet Patton
·3 min read

Another of Lexington’s O’Charley’s restaurants is officially gone.

The location at 2895 Richmond Rd. is being demolished to make way for a new building. The restaurant closed in 2020 and has been empty ever since. Today there is only one open O’Charley’s location in Lexington at 2099 Harrodsburg Rd.

Now, two new buildings will be going up for two new franchises at the old Richmond Road spot. What’s going in?

According to a building permits filed with the city, one building will be Lexington’s second 7Brew coffee drive-thru, while the other will also be the second local location of a chain, but this time a restaurant — Slim Chickens restaurant.

The sign on the old O’Charley’s location at 2895 Richmond Road had been covered over since it closed in 2020 but had since torn away. The chain restaurant location is under demolition, Monday, March 27, 2023 by demo contractor May Demolition.
The sign on the old O’Charley’s location at 2895 Richmond Road had been covered over since it closed in 2020 but had since torn away. The chain restaurant location is under demolition, Monday, March 27, 2023 by demo contractor May Demolition.
A demo contractor with May Demolition clears a cable at the site of the former O’Charley’s location at 2895 Richmond Road, which is being torn down Monday, March 27, 2023. The chain restaurant closed in 2020 and had been empty since.
A demo contractor with May Demolition clears a cable at the site of the former O’Charley’s location at 2895 Richmond Road, which is being torn down Monday, March 27, 2023. The chain restaurant closed in 2020 and had been empty since.

7Brew, the Arkansas-based coffee chain is building its first Kentucky location at 4265 Harrodsburg Rd. That location is expected to open later this year.

The 2895 Richmond Road location will be of similar size, about 510 square feet.

Next door to 7Brew will be a 3,211-square-foot new building for a second Lexington location of Slim Chickens at 2897 Richmond Rd., according to another building permit filed with the city.

7Brew, a drive-thru coffee kiosk chain that started in Arkansas, is coming to Kentucky and plans to build its first location in Lexington.
7Brew, a drive-thru coffee kiosk chain that started in Arkansas, is coming to Kentucky and plans to build its first location in Lexington.
7 Brew Coffee is opening a new location on Richmond Road.
7 Brew Coffee is opening a new location on Richmond Road.

7 Brew coffee locations, menu

According to the chain, 7 Brew opened its first kiosk in Rogers, Ark., and now has more than 45 throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina.

The brand focuses on speed, quality products, genuine connection and kindness, according to a spokesperson. The 7 Brew menu offers a variety of iced and hot coffee beverages, from its fan-favorite Blondie to the Triple 7, which features white chocolate and Irish cream and six shots of espresso.

7Brew, an Arkansas-based coffee chain, is planning to build a drive-thru on Richmond Road where O’Charley’s is being torn down.
7Brew, an Arkansas-based coffee chain, is planning to build a drive-thru on Richmond Road where O’Charley’s is being torn down.
7Brew Coffee also is building a location on Harrodsburg Road.
7Brew Coffee also is building a location on Harrodsburg Road.

They also serve a selection of chillers, shakes, teas, smoothies, infused sparkling waters and energy drinks. And there’s a kids’ menu too. Seasonal beverage options are also available each month, and 7 Brew fans can get these beloved drinks year-round by ordering from the ‘secret drink’ menu.

Besides the many excellent locally owned coffee shops, Lexington also is getting several other new drive-thru coffee chains including Dutch Bros, Scooter’s Coffee, and a second Human Bean is coming to Richmond Road as well.

Slim Chickens Kentucky locations, menu

Like 7Brew, Slim Chickens is based in Arkansas. Known for juicy chicken tenders and wings, in December, the chain announced it is opening its first Lexington location at 525 Waller Ave. across from St. Joseph Hospital, just off Broadway, later this spring.

Slim Chickens, which serves fresh-made chicken tenders and wings with your choice of 17 house-made dipping sauces (including gravy), is coming to Lexington.
Slim Chickens, which serves fresh-made chicken tenders and wings with your choice of 17 house-made dipping sauces (including gravy), is coming to Lexington.
The menu at Slim Chickens includes sandwiches and wraps as well as chicken tenders and wings.
The menu at Slim Chickens includes sandwiches and wraps as well as chicken tenders and wings.

Slim Chickens is a fast-casual “better chicken” leader with dine-in and drive-thru service.

Food is cooked to order, and the menu includes chicken tenders, fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, chicken wings and unique side items, alongside 17 house-made dipping sauces, including gravy. Besides chicken, the menu includes a rotating lineup of desserts in jars, fried pies and cookies.

A rotating menu of desserts in jars, as well as fried pies and cookies, round out the menu at Slim Chickens, which sells fresh-made tenders, wings, sandwiches and wraps as well as sides.
A rotating menu of desserts in jars, as well as fried pies and cookies, round out the menu at Slim Chickens, which sells fresh-made tenders, wings, sandwiches and wraps as well as sides.
Slim Chicken restaurants have tables and booths as well as communal tables. The chain is a leader in fast-casual “better chicken” with fresh fried tenders and wings and more.
Slim Chicken restaurants have tables and booths as well as communal tables. The chain is a leader in fast-casual “better chicken” with fresh fried tenders and wings and more.

There are more than 180 Slim Chickens locations open, including five in Kentucky, and 1,000 restaurants in development. There is one in Ashland, Pikeville and Somerset and two in Bowling Green.

The company announced plans earlier this year to add 29 locations throughout Kentucky in partnership with franchisee Harold Wallace and Houchens Food Group. Houchens Food Group operates more than 300 retail grocery, convenience, and neighborhood market stores across 14 states.

The group is set to open four more in Kentucky in 2023. Harold Wallace has spearheaded Slim Chickens’ push into the Nashville market, according to the chain. Wallace and Houchens are partnering to develop more locations across Kentucky.