One Holland Group CEO Gary Holland wanted his company’s signature real estate project, The Downs of Nicholson, to be the pinnacle of his hometown, Independence.
Holland, an Independence native and Simon Kenton High School graduate, began his restaurant venture by opening the Independence Skyline Chili in 2000. Since then, One Holland, his namesake restaurant group, grew to own and operate 65 restaurants throughout Northern Kentucky and Lexington.
One Holland’s portfolio includes multiple Dunkin’ Donuts, LaRosa’s, Skylines, First Watch Cafe’s and Barleycorn’s locations, in addition to historic restaurants like Merrick Inn in Lexington and Greyhound Tavern in Fort Mitchell.
In 2021, One Holland announced its plans for the Downs of Nicholson, a multi-million-dollar mixed-use development at the crossroads of US‑16 and Taylor Mill Road. The extensive project involved constructing an event center, brewery, farmer’s market, convenience store, multiple short-term rental cabins and over 60 patio homes across 35 acres. Construction officially began in 2023.
On Monday, the One Holland Group, along with officials from the City of Independence, celebrated another construction milestone in the project’s journey. One Holland opened the second Spear Ridge Cafe, a combined restaurant, general store, and Shell gas station, at 11990 Mitch Drive in Independence. The first opened in August 2024 at 7301 Industrial Road in Florence.
“The Spear Ridge Cafe–location number two–is now open, and we’re so excited to be taking care of everyone in Independence and also making this park another destination, because there aren’t too many places like this in Northern Kentucky,” Holland said.
Spear Ridge Cafe’s branding pays homage to Nicholson, a small, unincorporated community south of Independence. Old photographs of early 20th-century Nicholson adorn the restaurant’s interior.
Upon entering, customers are greeted by a large mural showcasing historic Independence, complete with images of old businesses, schools and local dignitaries. This is the same Nicholson referenced in the Downs of Nicholson development name.
The Spear Ridge Cafe serves scratch-made comfort food such as smashburgers, catfish po’ boys, pimento cheese sandwiches, fried chicken baskets, hushpuppies and seasonal soups. Next door to the restaurant is an attached general store that offers coffee, snacks, drinks, and grab-and-go breakfast items.
“This project, specifically, is deeply personal for Gary and I and our whole team. Independence did something for us,” said One Holland’s Chief Financial Officer, Jay Shelton. “It left us better.”
With the Spear Ridge Cafe now open, progress on the Downs at Nicholson treks onward. Behind the cafe, construction crews are building a new dual-spaced restaurant complex, which Holland called the “focal point” of the development. Holland said a new fine dining establishment would occupy one half of the space, with a Barleycorn’s restaurant taking the other half.
The complex’s basement will house a 14,000-square-foot brewery, where One Holland will produce its in-house craft beers. One Holland currently brews beer at its Barleycorn’s Brewhouse taproom in Wilder. With the Wilder brewery at production capacity, One Holland wants to expand its operation.
The fine dining establishment will be called The Royal Kentuckian, Holland said. The restaurant will serve steak and seafood, with a Kentucky flair. If construction continues on schedule, Holland expects the complex to open during the first quarter of 2026.
While closing out the ribbon-cutting, Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman said the Downs of Nicholson has been a positive force in the city.
“I look forward to more of these,” he said. “As a city, we were so blessed to have this–the services that will provide, just putting us on the map, it’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.”