Bob Estes
Bob Estes
Bob Estes
After owning the building on Short and Market for nearly three years, Bob Estes had a decision to make when the bar on the first floor moved out: either rent to someone else or operate his own venue.
In late 2011, Estes opened Parlay Social along with his partner and now fiancé Joy Breeding. Estes, who lives in a top-floor condo above Parley Social, found himself running down the street often to Shorty’s, The Urban Market — not only to get essentials for home, but also for the combination bar, restaurant and music venue.
Convenience and shopping locally
“I would go sometimes for up to two weeks without having to get in the truck,” Estes said of his decision to choose convenience and support his fellow local business owners rather than taking a drive to a supermarket.
It came as a shock to Estes when in September he found the doors of the market locked.
“I thought they were remodeling, but then they began liquidating,” he said.
Just more than a month later, he finalized a deal to purchase Shorty’s, take over the lease and reopen the market, which he saw as a necessity in his life and a benefit to his downtown-centered business model.
It turned out his wasn’t the only business to pop into Shorty’s for quick necessities. He’s visited other businesses near the old Fayette County Courthouse to inquire about items his fellow business owners would like the market to carry, so he can have the inventory in stock when Shorty’s reopens around Christmas.
Importance to downtown
“From a personal standpoint living downtown, to have a market like this is so important; it’s an integral part of downtown,” Estes said. “In my lifetime, I don’t know a time that has been as exciting to come downtown and enjoy all the old buildings and walk the sidewalks and look at the history we have here.”
Estes was one of the founders of CEDA, the Cheapside Entertainment District Association, which along with other business owners around the old courthouse has worked on issues confronting the district since before the construction of the Fifth Third Pavilion and renovation of Cheapside Park.
“Accumulatively, we had over $4 million of private money that small guys like me, Vince Carlucci [owner of SkyBar] and Larry Redmon [owner of Redmon’s, Bluegrass Tavern and part owner of the newly opened Belle’s Cocktail House] had already put into the downtown buildings,” Estes said.
Future plans for Shorty’s
Shorty’s will stay largely the same, with expanded seating for the popular lunch counter, but Estes is also looking to add more local products and incorporate goods from the Lexington Farmers Market if possible.
“I can see the Farmers Market bringing their products into Shorty’s,” he said. “I could see the chefs from all the restaurants coming in here and having a section where they can get all the local grown and take it back. Sometimes it’s a challenge for the farmers to get to all the restaurants like that, but we can be a clearinghouse for that.”
About Bob Estes
Age: 52
Education: Jessamine County High School, bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and began MBA programs at the University of Kentucky and Rollins College.
Title: Owner, Parlay Social and Shorty's Market.
Previous: Worked as a contractor and consultant for NASA and the U.S.
Department of Defense.