About three months after announcing its closure, the Covington Skyline Chili at the corner of 3rd and Philadelphia streets will remain open as One Holland Group takes over ownership, the company announced on Facebook.
“And to add to the celebration…Skyline franchisee Gary Holland of the One Holland Group is taking ownership of the store to keep 3rd & Philly open,” read the post.
One Holland is a Taylor Mill-based restaurant group that owns and manages various Skyline Chili, LaRosa’s, First Watch, Dunkin’ Donuts and Roy Rogers franchises across the region.
In April, Skyline announced the location would be temporarily closing. At the time, Skyline VP of Marketing and Brand Engagement Sarah Sicking told WCPO the company was actively searching for a new location, one preferably with a drive-thru.
The building on the property features no drive-thru window, something many of the neighboring fast food restaurants have, including McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, White Castle and rival Gold Star.
Built in 1970, the 32,000-square-foot building houses both Skyline and Riverfront Pizza & Sports Bar. The property was purchased by Westside Development Inc. in July 1971, according to Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator records.
Initially, the Skyline location captured lunchtime traffic from employees of the neighboring IRS Processing Center. The center employed approximately 4,000 people. It was demolished in 2022.
The announcement coincided with a ceremony for Wilma Mounce-Popp, an employee at the location who celebrated her 50-year work anniversary. She began working at the location as a teenager in 1973.
“She has dedicated her career to serving people. In fact, many of our guests came to view her as a part of their family,” Skyline CEO Dick Williams said in a press release. “Her hard work, dedication and commitment are great examples of customer care in any industry, especially in food service.”
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer issued a proclamation naming June 29 as “Ms. Wilma Day.” The proclamation stated that Mounce-Popp is “known for taking care of her customers” and became “an integral part of the Skyline family and the fabric of Covington.”
