Most everyone is familiar with Hamburg by now, even newcomers to the area. They've either heard about or visited the sprawling eastside mega-shopping center, office complex and residential neighborhood once known as Hamburg Place, a legendary horse farm owned by the Madden family. But many people may not take a trip to the other side of Hamburg: the commercial acreage located on the south side of Man O' War Boulevard near I-75 and split in two by Pleasant Ridge Drive. Technically, it's part of the old Hamburg farm and was once attached to it before Man O' War was extended out that way in the late '80s. But the "Other Side," has many attractive features of its own and is smaller, less congested and easier to navigate.
"Without question, Hamburg has changed the landscape on this side of town," said Kevin Stinnett, 6th District Urban County Council member. "The north and northeast areas of the city have long asked for more shopping opportunities nearby. It has also been good for franchisees and small business owners."
Service is the key word in this suburban Hamburg retail area. At one end of Plaudit Place, which parallels Man O' War, sits Liquor Barn's third Lexington location. It's a huge, architecturally interesting, red and yellow building that seems to have about everything you need in food and drink for parties and entertainment. Just up the block are two car dealerships that appear to cater to the many affluent residents living in the neighborhood: Porsche of Lexington and Audi of Lexington. There are 16 restaurants on this side of Hamburg, including the usual fast-food outlets, but also larger chains like Carrabba's, Ryan's, Outback Steakhouse and also Malone's, a local favorite that's a Lexington original.
Naturally, the Other Side has a Starbucks. But it's a cafÈ, not a drive-through, like so many other locations. Store manager Greda Patton says that means people who walk in get more "face time" with the staff, which makes for a friendlier environment. "We're a little neighborhood store, on your way to work. We get a lot of people from 7 to 9 a.m.," said Patton. "Many business people come here for meetings. I think people come, not for a $4 cup of coffee, but to see us and chat. We try to learn their names and remember their favorite drinks. Customers don't have to come here, so they deserve to be treated special."
Being along the interstate, the Other Side also boasts four hotels: Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Sleep Inn and Homewood Suites. A fifth hotel, a Hyatt Place, will open in the fall. There are two bank branches, furniture and carpet stores and an "executive" car wash, among the varied businesses.
The Other Side of Hamburg is also home to Lexington's Harley Davidson dealership, where passionate Harley owners wheel in their hogs for service and parts, and to buy cool Harley clothing and other collectibles in the well-stocked store. There are 46 employees at the dealership, co-owned by Wes Blackburn and Jim Bentley. Blackburn also owns the Harley dealership in Pikeville. "With gas prices up, Harley owners really appreciate their value," said office manager Jim Sudina. "But mostly we're about being an American company that's been around for 105 years."
The only spot on this side of Hamburg that is zoned for industry is along Bryant Road, about a block off Man O' War. Tucked behind a retail strip is a 101,000-square-foot building managed by the Gibson Company and ready for tenants. "This is a good location, near the interstate," said Billy Smith, a leasing agent for Gibson. "It has 30-foot ceilings, which are about five feet higher than the average space, and ample loading docks and drive-in doors." Smith Calls it a "flex" building, because the exterior looks like a retail center while the interior is industrial. Smith says a lease has been signed to occupy 35,000 square feet by a company called Rat Pack, a storage unit distributor, and a letter of intent to lease another 22,000 square feet has been received from a fitness gym. Next door, a new Ashley Furniture Home Store is under construction. And so Hamburg, and its "little brother" across the street, has become a small city within a city after just a dozen years of construction activity.
Meanwhile, available lots for new retail and office buildings at Hamburg, on both sides of Man O' War, are dwindling. Developers are now looking to the east side of I-75 for expansion. Central Baptist Hospital has already announced its intention to build a hospital there. The city has prepared an infrastructure plan for the area to accommodate such things as new sewers, roads, sidewalks and street lights. So it appears that it will be quite some time before the Hamburg story will finally reach its end.