Readers say Lexington needs these stores, restaurants. But could they really come here?

We asked readers “what store or restaurant does Lexington need that it doesn’t have?”

And a lot of people had thoughts.

Several people commented that Lexington actually doesn’t need more retail or restaurant chains to open: “Kentucky needs to build up its own local businesses. All I see are box stores and restaurants slowly taking over when this state is very self sufficient.”

And: “We don’t need any more chains making Lexington like every other place in the country. We need more unique independent places.”

But many readers had very definite opinions about what they’d love to see come to Central Kentucky.

Here’s the must-have answers and results of what they want and the probability of the businesses coming.

IKEA got the most votes in our poll of what business or restaurant readers would like to see come to Central Kentucky.
IKEA got the most votes in our poll of what business or restaurant readers would like to see come to Central Kentucky.

IKEA

Top of the list is a shopping favorite for reasonably priced goods of all kinds: Swedish giant IKEA, known for its flat-packed furniture you assembly yourself. The closest ones at the moment are north of Cincinnati in West Chester, Ohio, or near Nashville. You can get stuff shipped but the cost kind of negates the cheap price.

What are the odds of IKEA coming here? Not good, in my opinion. The stores tend to be located near major cities. If one was coming to Kentucky it probably would come to Louisville.

Whataburger has expanded recently into Tennessee, so why not closer to Lexington?
Whataburger has expanded recently into Tennessee, so why not closer to Lexington?

Whataburger

This Texas-based burger chain got the most mentions of any restaurant. Known for its orange A-frame buildings and burgers that take two hands, Whataburger has locations across the South and apparently has lots of fans in Kentucky.

Odds of coming here: Pretty good. The chain is already in Nashville with at least five restaurants coming to the Memphis area and nine to middle Tennessee — sounds like a road trip to me.

In-N-Out Burger locations are moving east. But could they come to Kentucky?
In-N-Out Burger locations are moving east. But could they come to Kentucky?

In-N-Out Burger

This, the second-highest restaurant vote-getter was a bit of a surprise. But Central Kentucky loves burgers, so why not this Hollywood darling? In-N-Out is old-school, still family-owned, serves hamburgers, cheeseburgers and the “Double-Double” with two patties and two slices of cheese. They’re also famous for “secret menu” items like the Neapolitan shake with three flavors.

Chance of coming here: Pretty slim. They have expanded beyond California and the Southwest, though, but only as far as Texas, Oregon and Colorado.

Proposed Top Golf facility on the High Street parking lot across from the Central Bank Center. The Top Golf proposal was not selected by the Lexington Center Corporation, which oversees Central Bank Center.
Proposed Top Golf facility on the High Street parking lot across from the Central Bank Center. The Top Golf proposal was not selected by the Lexington Center Corporation, which oversees Central Bank Center.

Topgolf

Apparently Lexington has a lot of golfers. Or maybe its the party atmosphere of Topgolf that people are craving. According to its web site, Topgolf “is a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game ... paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu.”

Odds of getting one: Pretty good. Topgolf was one of the projects that bid to develop the High Street parking lot by Rupp Arena. Lexington Center ultimately decided the Topgolf proposal would not work for the site but there are other sites. And Louisville is getting one.

For a town that loves to go Krogering, a surprising number of people would love to see Wegmans come to town.
For a town that loves to go Krogering, a surprising number of people would love to see Wegmans come to town.

Wegmans

This was another eyebrow-raising suggestion for an area that is basically in Kroger’s backyard. But Wegmans has a big following; people write letters asking the store to come. Founded in Rochester, N.Y., Wegmans is a family-owned supermarket chain mainly in the Northeast. Customers love it, line up for new store openings and people love to work there.

Odds of it coming here: Probably zero. The company is interested in growing New England. Sorry, #Wegmaniacs.

Wawa employs more than 35,000 workers at about 900 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. But there are none in Kentucky.
Wawa employs more than 35,000 workers at about 900 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. But there are none in Kentucky.

Wawa

Lot of people mentioned Wawa. If you’ve spent any time in Pennsylvania, or on the East Coast or maybe in Florida, you’ve probably stopped at a Wawa. The convenience stores are known for their hoagies, coffee and the Sizzli, a breakfast sandwich.

Odds of coming here: Growing. In April 2022, the CEO said they want to double the number of stores by 2030, which means roughly 1,000 more, including in new markets like North Carolina and all the states between Virginia and Florida. Which doesn’t include Kentucky, obviously, but is closer than it was.

Readers really want to shop at Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack in Lexington but will it happen?
Readers really want to shop at Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack in Lexington but will it happen?

Nordstrom/Nordstrom Rack

People love to shop and a lot of them want to shop at Nordstrom, whether its the luxury chain or its off-price sister brand. And Central Kentucky feels left out; there’s a Nordstrom Rack in Louisville and in Cincinnati, and Cincinnati has a Nordstrom as well.

Odds of coming here: Reasonable. Lexington has been attracting more upscale retailers, so it could happen.

Menards is known for low-priced home improvement goods but fans know it has more.
Menards is known for low-priced home improvement goods but fans know it has more.

Menards

Wisconsin-based home improvement chain Menards also had a lot of votes among our readers. Why? Low prices. It competes very favorably with Home Depot and Lowes. But what you might not know is the Menards actually carries groceries too, which can save an extra trip.

Odds of coming here: Very good. Actually Menards has plans to put in a store near Brannon Crossing between Nicholasville and Lexington but that’s been on the back burner for a while.

Sheetz is another convenience store chain that the readers in the Herald-Leader poll would like to see in Central Kentucky.
Sheetz is another convenience store chain that the readers in the Herald-Leader poll would like to see in Central Kentucky.

Sheetz

Central Kentuckians who travel into West Virginia and Ohio are familiar with Sheetz, a chain of convenience stores and coffee shops headquartered in Pennsylvania, and a big rival of Wawa. The stores are known for their made-to-order subs and better coffee. Fans also rave about slushies, milkshakes and unusual fried items like the Mac ’n Cheese bites.

Chances of coming: Medium. There hasn’t been any move into Kentucky but Sheetz has announced plans to expand into western Ohio so, maybe?

Could Lexington get a Crate and Barrel? Readers sure want one.
Could Lexington get a Crate and Barrel? Readers sure want one.

Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel offers high quality furniture, cookware, home furnishings and more and Central Kentuckians are dying to shop there. Now they have to drive to Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis or Nashville.

Odds of getting one here: Low. Not seeing a lot of expansion plans, but Lexington has a Pottery Barn at The Summit, so it could happen.

Crate and Barrel is known for its modern home furnishings.
Crate and Barrel is known for its modern home furnishings.

Other contenders

Several other stores and restaurants had multiple mentions in our poll:

REI, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Jack-in-the-Box, H-Mart, Buca di Beppo, Container Store, Fuddruckers, H.E.B., Old Spaghetti Factory, Portillos, Potbelly and Tim Horton’s.

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