Lexington residents have until the end of this week to enjoy their favorite Frisch’s Big Boy fudge cake, as three local locations face imminent closure. The Harrodsburg Road, Hamburg, and Winchester restaurants are scheduled to shut down due to financial difficulties faced by the Cincinnati-based restaurant chain.
Employees were informed of the closures on Sunday, with the Harrodsburg Road location set to close on Wednesday, the Winchester location on Thursday, and Hamburg on Friday. Kim Brown, a server at the Hamburg location who has been with the company since 1998, expressed her sadness and the emotional toll the news has taken on staff and regular customers. “We have been crying with the customers,” she said, highlighting the impact of the closures on both employees and the community.
The notice of eviction came from the chain’s landlord, NNN REIT, which ordered the Lexington locations to vacate by December 9. This decision followed a default on rent payments, threatening legal action should the businesses fail to comply. Brown expressed hope that corporate management might delay the closures until the legal issues are settled or the end of the month.
Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident; numerous Frisch’s locations across Ohio have also been subjected to evictions, and some have already shut their doors permanently. Recent lawsuits against the chain by vendors for unpaid bills further underscore the company’s financial struggles. The closures in Kentucky are part of a wider list affecting other locations, including establishments in Winchester, Burlington, Florence, Cold Spring, Independence, Erlanger, and Maysville.
As closures approach, employees face uncertainty regarding their futures. The total number of impacted workers in Lexington remains unclear, signaling a challenging holiday season ahead for many.
These developments conclude a significant chapter for Frisch’s Big Boy, a once-popular dining option that has seen declining patronage and operational difficulties, leaving loyal customers and dedicated employees grappling with impending loss.
