For sale: Downtown Lexington bar, restaurant known for New Orleans flavor, live music

Janet Patton

A Lexington bar and restaurant known for its jazzy vibe and Creole flavor is for sale.

Creaux, 310-312 W. Short St. in downtown Lexington, is listed with Chris Mitchell at Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Realty for $1.35 million. That includes the building as well as the restaurant and bar, which is still open.

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The New Orleans-style bar opened in 2017 featuring cocktails and Cajun-inspired dishes such as Blue Cheese Crawfish Beignets, Shrimp and Grit Cakes and Cajun Corn Dip. The intimate spot is also a popular live music venue as well.

And it’s right in the heart of one of Lexington’s biggest and most popular restaurant districts.

Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington, is for sale, including the business and the building.
Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington, is for sale, including the business and the building.
The Hurricane is one of the signature drinks offered at Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington.
The Hurricane is one of the signature drinks offered at Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington.

Now owners Ieasha and Dougie Allen and Stephen Scaldaferri are ready to focus on other projects.

Ieasha Allen, who is opening a new private dining club around the corner on Broadway, said they hope to find a buyer who will keep Creaux going.

Patrons enjoyed food and cocktails on the sidewalk outside Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington.
Patrons enjoyed food and cocktails on the sidewalk outside Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington.
Ieasha Allen, co-owner of Creaux cocktail bar on Short Street, plans to open a new private dining club downtown on South Broadway.
Ieasha Allen, co-owner of Creaux cocktail bar on Short Street, plans to open a new private dining club downtown on South Broadway.

“All three partners have moved into different areas of their lives where we are all exploring new business ventures, and experiencing an increase in family responsibilities & demand that are taking away our ability to oversee Creaux’s operations as closely as we’d like,” Allen said via email.

“We love the product we’ve built and what it has meant to the community. We’d love to see it sold to someone (or a group) that understands how important it is to have this culture presence in downtown, Lexington, and sees value in continuing to make Lexington a more equitable place to live.”

Creaux served seafood gumbo for Lexington SoulFeast’s Black Restaurant Week.
Creaux served seafood gumbo for Lexington SoulFeast’s Black Restaurant Week.
Downtown Lexington bar and restaurant Creaux was also known for live music.
Downtown Lexington bar and restaurant Creaux was also known for live music.

She said that if they can’t find a buyer who wants to keep Creaux going, they will consider selling the building and reopening Creaux elsewhere someday.

“We have had many requests to open Crēaux in other neighboring cities, including Nashville, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Louisville, and our partnership group may explore that in that future, as well as reopening in Lexington,” she said.

The downtown building location has been several different restaurants over the years including Table 310 and Real Hamburger & Bar.

Creaux joins a wave of other Lexington restaurants that could be changing hands including Joe Bologna’s, Marikka’s Restaurant & Bier Stube and Jasmine Rice Thai & Vietnamese are all currently for sale.

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