Downtown
BUDDHA LOUNGE San Francisco native Nick Lagagsorn is in the process of converting a former office building on North Mill Street into Buddha Lounge, a stylish, urban sushi bar and restaurant. With an anticipated opening in late summer or early fall, Buddha Lounge will feature an imaginative, Asian-inspired menu that centers around sushi and tapas, but with a broad assortment of other dishes to suit a variety of palates. Lagagsorn has several years of experience in the San Francisco restaurant scene, and is excited to begin his career as an owner. With two young daughters and an already congested industry in the Bay Area, he realized it made more sense to move his family across the country for a change of pace. Nat Yuttayong, owner of Nat’s Thai Restaurant on South Upper Street and longtime friend of Lagagsorn, suggested he consider moving to Lexington. Lagagsorn visited last spring, and was sold. Buddha Lounge will be a welcome addition to the cluster of restaurants that has appeared on the west side of downtown in recent years. Architect Rebecca Burnworth and her husband, Eric Burnworth of Burnworth Builds, will act as project managers to overhaul the approximately 2,500-square-foot location at 109 North Mill (between Short and Main Streets). They’ll open up the space and add several large windows for an airy atmosphere. While details are still in the works, Lagagsorn expects that Buddha Lounge will be open for lunch and dinner, with happy-hour specials and later weekend hours.
LEXINGTON Quality of Life Trends* • 30,000 in total enrollment at Kentucky’s flagship campus of higher education, the University of Kentucky, with $1.3 billion invested in campus improvements in just 3 years • Lexington was rated 6th among mid-sized cities for population with an advanced degree (U.S. Census Bureau) • $1 billion valuation in projects recently completed, underway and in pre-development within the central business district • 172 restaurants and bars in the walkable central business district contribute to the afterhours entertainment and dining options • $18.6 million annual economic impact created by the arts and culture industry in Lexington • $57 million raised by Bluegrass area start up companies, creating 272 jobs • 7,639 pedestrians through the centrally located downtown outdoor pavilion on average during a Saturday night
DISTILLERY DISTRICT / PEPPER CAMPUS There’s a lot brewing just west of the Lexington Center and Rupp Arena on Manchester Street. The Distillery District offers an exciting, “off the beaten path” experience in an area that has served many purposes over the years. From live music and the arts, to a fully functional distillery and unique industrial architecture, this growing neighborhood offers a fusion of Lexington’s historic past and active present. We’ve highlighted a few Distillery District businesses here, but you can see a full list on lexingtondistillerydistrict.com – or better yet, come out and explore this highly revitalized area for yourself.
*Downtown Development Authority’s March 2015 Market Inventory
AUGUST 2015 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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