Popular California chain known for burgers, late night menu coming to Lexington
A popular California-based fast-food chain known for its burgers and tacos is coming to Lexington.
Jack in the Box is expected to open its first Kentucky locations in Lexington and Louisville.
Van Ingram, Jack in the Box vice president for franchise development, lived in Lexington for more than 20 years and his two kids graduated from the University of Kentucky, so he said that coming back to the Bluegrass is a big goal.
“It’s a priority market for me,” Ingram said. “We think it’s an ideal opportunity. The burger competition is strong.”
Ingram said that six new restaurant locations in Louisville already are in the works.
“We hope to have a couple of the Louisville locations open by the end of the calendar year and the rest by 2024,” Ingram said. “So we’ll have a presence there in Kentucky very soon.”
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How many Jack in the Box locations are coming to Lexington?
At the moment, Ingram said, they are looking for a franchisee to partner with in Lexington with the goal of building four or five new restaurant locations inside New Circle Road, plus 10 to 15 more outside, including in ring cities like Richmond, Winchester, Georgetown, London, Frankfort and Morehead.
He said they hope to build 15 to 20 in the Central Kentucky market plus more in Louisville.
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Possible Jack in the Box Lexington locations
Jack in the Box is looking at putting locations along the Nicholasville Road corridor, near Hamburg, near the UK campus, on Tates Creek near Man o’ War, and on New Circle in the Bryan Station/Russell Cave area, he said.
The West Coast chain recently began expanding, announcing plans for Arkansas and Florida. Now, the company wants to add spots in Kentucky.
Lexington’s demographics and growth make it “just an ideal market,” Ingram said. “It’s ripe for Jack in the Box’s unique menu.”
What’s on the Jack in the Box menu?
Jack in the Box is known for a wide-ranging menu that includes sirloin beef burgers, sandwiches such as the Chick-N-Tater Melt, popcorn chicken, all-day breakfast, tacos (including tiny ones), curly fries, egg rolls, shakes and other desserts.
The menu hits five separate dining opportunities: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and late night.
The late night menu is popular, especially with the college crowd, and is “one of our core strengths,” Ingram said.
