mcallisters
The owners of the new McAlister’s Deli located in Chevy Chase, from left to right, A.J. Patel, Monty Patel and Ken Patel. photo by: Emily Moseley.
Lexington, KY - A new restaurant deli franchise has joined the growing number of new businesses that are making a home for themselves along Euclid Avenue and High Street.
McAlister’s Deli, a Mississippi-based franchise with 11 locations in Kentucky, opened the doors to its first Lexington location the last week of March, at 836 Euclid Ave. Ken Patel, owner of the new restaurant, said he was drawn to the Chevy Chase neighborhood by its closely-connected community and he sees it as a “great growth opportunity” for McAlister's, a concept he was first introduced to in Louisville.
A self-dubbed “quick-casual” restaurant chain, McAlister's menu includes made-to-order sandwiches, salads and baked potatoes, with entrée prices ranging from $6 to $9. Guests order at the restaurant counter, and the food is delivered to their table. The concept began in an old gas station in Oxford, Miss., and has grown to 308 restaurants in 23 states, including eight sites in Louisville alone.
Patel, a former owner/operator of Subway restaurants in Lexington and manager of a Georgetown, Ky., hotel, identifies the fresh food quality and superior service level as what makes McAlister's unique and “not a typical deli,” he said.
Patel said the decision to locate in Chevy Chase was not a difficult one.
“When we looked at the Chevy Chase Plaza, I was very amazed by the community here,” Patel said. “I wanted to be part of that community.”
Another advantage of being on the corner of Euclid Avenue and High Street is that the location's exterior windows make for a “fishtank” effect, offering good visibility on the high-traffic corner. Patel also noted the proximity to campus and hopes McAlister's will become a favorite for students.
Parking is a persistent challenge to retailers along Euclid and High, and Patel said that was one of the wrinkles that needed to be ironed out with McAlister’s corporate offices as well, because the site includes less parking than typically required. The Chevy Chase location offers free parking to patrons in the Chevy Chase Plaza parking garage, with an interior entrance directly to the restaurant, and Patel said he is confident that it will not take long for Lexingtonians to catch on to the convenience.
The 3,400-square-foot restaurant seats 100 guests. The bright interior and fluid design is newer to McAlister's restaurants, with walls lined with local photography and several digital menu boards displaying colorful pictures and promotions.
While the McAlister's in Chevy Chase is the first in Lexington, Patel hopes to open another location in the area within a year.
“We plan to grow,” Patel said.
McAlister’s current hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, though subject to change, Patel said, as the location becomes established.