Popular Detroit-style pizza closing Lexington location after five months. Here’s why.
A popular prize-winning Lexington pizza maker is looking for a new place to park his oven, again.
Rise Up Pizza is leaving the kitchen spot inside Horse & Jockey Pub on Short Street in downtown Lexington after less than five months.
Owner Matty Evans posted about the news on his social media page on Facebook, saying that he will be closing up after Sunday.
Evans said that he has lost his lease at the pub “unexpectedly.”
“I was told yesterday that I have to be out by Monday,” Evans said via text. But he said he does get to keep his new pizza oven, which he uses to make Detroit-style square or rectangular thick-crust pizza and caramelized cheesy corners.
Horse & Jockey Pub owner Jimmy McSweeney said although Rise Up’s pizza is great, it just wasn’t a broad enough menu and unfortunately had to be closed.
Evans, whose pizzas have been perennial winners in the voting during Lexington Pizza Week, said that because he had such short notice he doesn’t have any new location lined up to move into and will have to shut down at least temporarily.
“I am likely to relaunch the food truck at least partially this year, with hopes of finding and better and more permanent brick and mortar spot towards the end of the season,” Evans said. “Hopefully a spot that isn’t dependent on other businesses being run properly.”
Evans said that his two staff members would make excellent hires; he also spoke highly of the bartenders and staff at Horse & Jockey.
Rise Up Pizza left its previous location at Greyline Station in November after two years; before that Evans built a following for his unique pizzas made from his pop-up food truck.
He also switched pizza styles with the move, from “Nearly-apolitan” crust to the doughier Detroit style.
What new food is coming to Horse & Jockey Pub?
McSweeney, the Horse & Jockey Pub owner, said he has plans for food service in the bar on Cheapside near the Fifth Third Pavilion on Tandy Park.
McSweeney bought the pub from former business partner Paul Murphy last fall; the pair opened Horse & Jockey together in January 2020 with plans to service Irish pub fare but dropped that menu during the pandemic.
The downtown bar also is known for its extensive back patio area will serve a full menu, McSweeney said.
“When I met Matty in Oct, said I’d give him a go, but told him I wanted some additional items ... Because if three people come through the door and one doesn’t want pizza, you lose the whole tab.”
He hopes to have a menu of “upscale comfort food,” including burgers, hot dogs, wings and more in place for April with plans to expand during the summer.
Longtime Lexington Thai restaurant owner announces a big change is coming
Lexington restaurant inspections: Downtown taco stand, food service store closed
Lexington rights commission: Restaurant discriminated against woman with service dog
