A new fast-food restaurant is sliding into the former Fazoli’s spot on Nicholasville Road, and it’s ready to take on the rest.
Savvy Sliders, based in Detroit, will be opening its first Kentucky location later this year at 2200 Nicholasville Road, Suite 250, in the front of Zandale Shopping Center.
The Fazoli’s restaurant there closed abruptly February as owner FAT Brands was about to enter bankruptcy.
Now, the spot near Panera is about to undergo a $450,000 remodel, according to a permit filed with the city, and reopen as Savvy Sliders. It’s the second upscale sliders restaurant to launch into Lexington: Smalls Sliders will be coming to Richmond Road.
Jason Day, director of operations and one of the owners in local group SGT LLC that is bringing Savvy Sliders to town, said they plan to open 10 locations in the Bluegrass State. After Lexington, they plan to expand into Central Kentucky, he said.
“Nicholasville Road will be the introduction to the market with the brand,” Day said. “It’s a very family-friendly menu with sliders, chicken fingers, fries and custard shakes. We don’t think there’s something necessarily like it in Kentucky.”
What makes Savvy Sliders different?
For one, Day said, the sliders are bigger than those you might find at, say, your average White Castle.
Two Savvy Sliders will fill you up, Day said. But people often order party packs with multiples to feed a crowd.
Combos typically include two never-frozen Angus beef burgers or hand-breaded fried chicken tenders, crinkle fries and, if you upgrade a bit, a shake, for around $12-$14. The menu also includes onion rings, cheesy curds, a fish slider and a falafel one for vegetarians. And you can mix it up and pick your own two sliders.
They also have a Steak House slider made with shredded steak; The Hangover, made with beef, bacon, fried egg, cheese and their signature Boom Sauce; Boomin’ Chicken, fried chicken in the Boom Sauce with pickles; and the Big Signature, with two beef patties, grilled onions, lettuce, cheese and Boom Sauce.
The hand-breaded chicken comes as tenders or nuggets, with a choice of six sauces.
“It’s food for anyone. Who doesn’t love burgers and chicken fingers?” Day said.
The custard shakes come in nine flavors, and there’s always a seasonal limited time offering such as Mike’s Hot Honey Vanilla Honey Comb Custard or Fruity Pebbles Custard.
Flavors include vanilla, banana, chocolate, strawberry, banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, cookies n’ creme and confetti birthday cake. Day said the banana pudding shake “is amazing.”
When will Savvy Sliders open on Nicholasville Road in Zandale?
Remodeling is expected to begin in the next two weeks, and they hope to be open by late October or early November. The restaurant will be keeping its drive-thru.
In the meantime, during construction, Day said they will kickstart things with their Savvy Sliders food truck, which will open in the parking lot at the end of August or early September.
“So people can try it before it’s open,” he said. “We’ll sell a limited menu, until we run out.”
After that, the truck will be available for off-site catering.
“Our goal is by next spring or summer to have it all over the place,” he said.