Welcome to Around Town, my new column about people, places, and happenings in Winchester and Clark County. In this and future editions, I’ll share a variety of observations and reflections on our community. Sometimes the column will focus on one theme, and sometimes it will be more of a potpourri of items. This first installment falls into the latter category.
Observant readers have no doubt noticed the buzz around current and future construction projects in town. These are exciting times for people who want to see Winchester grow — and less exciting for those who would rather preserve green space.
I don’t take sides in that debate because I believe smart, responsible growth can coexist with preserving the countryside’s rural beauty. I’ll probably write more about it in future columns, but today I thought I’d run through what we know so far about what may be coming next.
I tend to focus most of my writing on Winchester’s downtown revival and will continue to do so. But most of the current development buzz centers on Bypass Rd and the I‑64 exits. So let’s jump in.
The bypass is hoppin’
By now, it’s no secret that both Aldi and Publix are planning to open new supermarkets in our fair city. Unfortunately for people who live downtown or on the east side, both stores will be on Bypass Road, which already has a Kroger and a Walmart Supercenter.
Aldi will open in Winchester Plaza in the space formerly occupied by Bargain Hunt. Work has begun on updates to the building, which appears to be a near-total rebuild. I hear the store is expected to open this summer. With Cricket Wireless moving across the bypass into the plaza, Winchester’s oldest major shopping center will be fully occupied for the first time in decades. It’s nice to see the parking lot full of cars again.
Work is underway to refit the old Frisch’s restaurant, which closed in December 2024. The new restaurant will be a Pepper’s Mexican Grill, which has five other locations in Kentucky. So much for the Winchester Diner, I guess. By my rough count, this would make it Winchester’s 12th restaurant offering Mexican or Latin fare.
I haven’t heard any recent updates on the development planned for the space on Bypass Road next to the Forest Service offices. The lot was leveled and filled with gravel months ago, but there has been no recent activity. The original plan called for a mattress store and — I’m not joking — a drive-thru coffee shop. There are already four drive-thru coffee shops within a mile of one another along that stretch. Five years ago, there was one.
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I understand the proposed travel center and truck stop approved for Paris Road at Exit 96 is still in the works. Some hurdles remain to be cleared, but it appears the development, which will include two or three restaurants, will move forward. Many people in Royal Oaks don’t seem happy about it, but others on the east side are excited to finally see new development in the neighborhood.
Turning back to Publix, there has been considerable controversy over the sale of the property at the intersection of Bypass Road and Colby Road. Previously home to a walking trail and owned by the Greater Clark Foundation, it will soon house Winchester’s newest major shopping center, to be known as Winchester Village. In addition to Publix, the development will include a strip mall with up to nine businesses, as well as five outparcels. It will have two entrances: one on Colby Road and one on the bypass, across from Walgreens.
In the coming weeks, I plan to write more about this development and share my thoughts on the land sale and the resultant loss of the Winchester Traveling Trail.
A developer plans to tear down the old Rite Aid pharmacy on Pedro Way and redevelop the property. Under the development plan, the lot would be split into two; the Planning Commission is set to vote on it on June 2. A bank would occupy one lot, while plans for the other have not yet been announced.
I suggest a drive-thru Mexican coffee shop. What do you think?
