Notice paper over former Lexington Bella Villaggio's windows? Here's what's happening

Jill Doss-Raines, The Dispatch
·3 min read
Josh Kirkman (second from left) and Jessie Kirkman (third from left) stand in the downtown Lexington property they bought in late July. The Guilford County couple who own a restaurant in Greensboro has plans to open a restaurant and family pool hall at the former Bella Villaggio Italian Restaurant in Lexington, possibly in 2024 after much renovation. They are pictured with sons Tristan and Rylee.

Anytime paper goes over a building's windows in downtown Lexington, people get curious about what is happening behind the paper.

That is definitely the case at 19 N. Main St. in the former Bella Villaggio Italian Restaurant's downtown Lexington building. Gray paper went up over the glass windows and doors shortly after the property was purchased on July 28. Here are the answers to what's happening.

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Jessie and Josh Kirkman of Greensboro purchased the building and have long-term plans to renovate the property, open a restaurant and family billiards downstairs, and build two apartments on the second floor above the restaurant.

"This is not going to happen in a few months," said Jessie Kirkman. "We do things right and we do things slow."

The Kirkmans estimated it will be sometime in the spring of 2024 before the restaurant is open. On Thursday, the couple was there with sons Tristan and Rylee, and long-time friend and chief "do-it-man," Gary Johnson working on the downstairs.

"This will be a complete gut," she said. "We are taking out the walls, electrical and HVAC."

The Kirkmans are not new to the food industry. Josh has worked in the food industry since he was 18, and Jessie since she was 15. They own Jake's Pub & Billiards on Spring Garden Road in Greensboro and recently sold a second restaurant they owned, Freeman's Grub & Pub, also on Spring Garden Road.

Gray paper covers the windows of the former Bella Villaggio in downtown Lexington, which has been purchased by a Greensboro couple. They are working with family and friends to gut the place for a new restaurant and family pool hall, as well as two apartments above the restaurant.
Gray paper covers the windows of the former Bella Villaggio in downtown Lexington, which has been purchased by a Greensboro couple. They are working with family and friends to gut the place for a new restaurant and family pool hall, as well as two apartments above the restaurant.

There are no plans to sell Jake's Pub & Billiards, which they have owned since 2005 and has been part of the Greensboro restaurant scene for almost 29 years.

The Kirkmans said the menu at their Lexington restaurant, which is still unnamed, will be similar to Jake's with some modifications. The Greensboro eatery is known for elevated bar food, with much of it being housemade, such as the ranch and honey mustard dressings for dipping chicken tenders and approximately 25 sauces for the chicken wings. They also serve hand-patted burgers, subs and wraps, hot dogs, quesadillas and a large list of appetizers and sides.

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The Kirkmans fell in love with Lexington when they would bring their sons they were fostering at the time for visits with their mom at the Davidson County Department of Social Services. They eventually adopted the brothers, who are now 16 and 15 respectively. They also have two younger children, Anna and Mason.

"We always tried to plan something fun after those visits," she said. Those fun things included eating at restaurants in downtown Lexington and visits to The Candy Factory.

Josh Kirkman said the downtown merchants and residents have been very welcoming, which further attracts them to the slower pace of small-town living Lexington offers.

If it's in the stars, the older sons will work at the Lexington restaurant and may live in the apartments upstairs. They're keeping all their options open, however.

With all the difficulties the pandemic has brought to the food industry from short staffing to supply chain issues, some people think the Kirkmans are nuts for buying property to open a second restaurant. They don't think they are nuts at all, however.

"I thrive when I can be creative," Jessie Kirkman said. "The normal, mundane things that have become frustrating and challenging like finding mustard and ketchup for our restaurant have taken a toll on me. But doing this, creating a new place, I thrive on that."

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- Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com and subscribe to us at the-dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Buyers plan restaurant, billiards, 2 apartments in downtown Lexington