By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune Reporter
Florence officially has another full-service restaurant. Spear Ridge Cafe celebrated an unofficial opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week. The restaurant, which touts a menu made with fresh ingredients, will once again offer home-cooked meals to compete with the vast fast-food market.
“I felt like something was missing here,” said restaurant founder Gary Holland of One Holland. “When I was growing up in Northern Kentucky, there were places like this, and now they’re almost nonexistent. I just thought I could do something special and bring that Kentucky diner back to Northern Kentucky.”
The new restaurant is about 280 square meters in size and is designed in the style of a horse stable.
“I saw this barn on a horse farm in Augusta, Georgia, and I just thought we have to have it here,” Holland said. “This will be one of two. We’re also going to build one in Independence at the Downs of Nicholson. This is a taste of what we’re doing at the Downs of Nicholson. The First Watch restaurant will open in November and the rest of the facility will open in the summer of 2025.”
Holland said this was the area where he grew up and he was nostalgic about his childhood.
“I worked in this industrial park, my father worked in this industrial park for 27 years, my mother worked in this park for 20 years, my wife worked in this park and my father-in-law worked in this industrial park,” he explained. “So this is our home.”
In addition to opening the cafe, Holland took the opportunity to present a check to the Beechgrove Elementary PTA for $2,024, as the year is 2024 and he added an amount so the donation is now $2,500.
“When we can, we’re happy to help them,” Holland said. “I went to school there. I grew up about a mile from here. We know a lot of underprivileged kids go to that school, and the PTA can help if kids need something.”
Although Holland is home to over 2,000 companies, he was still moved as he tried to thank everyone for their contribution as he addressed the crowd and introduced the opening ceremony.
“This… is an exciting day,” he said when he could speak again.
He asked the crowd if they agreed that the building, with all its brass and old-world charm, was a work of art, and explained that it would be a landmark.
“Shortly after I bought my horse farm in 2006, I fell in love with everything to do with horses and stables and was inspired,” he recalls. “I thought we needed something like this up here.”
Holland said this is different and people may have to wait a little longer for their food, but it will be worth it.
Florence Mayor Julie Aubuchon was in attendance along with members of the city council, police and fire departments and presented Holland with a bobblehead from Y’alls Tower.
“This is our key to the city,” she said, trying to make herself heard over the traffic noise.
The restaurant is located at 7301 Industrial Road, across from the Holland-built Skyline Chili.
There are also gas pumps and a store behind the restaurant. It is not yet finished, but Holland promises it will be ready soon.
Another project on Holland’s list is a Roy Rogers restaurant, which will be located in the industrial area closer to SR 42 and will also include a Dunkin’ Donuts.
