The permanent closure of Fort Wright’s SubStation II is slated for April 5 as the restaurant’s owners couldn’t find a relocation spot following the sale of their building to OneHolland Group.
On Feb. 2, the commercial building at 1826 Dixie Highway was sold to OneHolland Group for $750,000. OneHolland CEO Gary Holland told LINK nky they plan to tear down the current building and construct a new drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts on the plot.
OneHolland 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 addition, they own all four Northern Kentucky Barleycorn’s locations, Greyhound Tavern in Fort Mitchell and Merrick Inn in Lexington.
“That building came to our attention that it was possibly for sale because there were no leases in place,” Holland said. “The owner at the time didn’t have leases in place with any of the tenants.”
Holland said they are aiming to open in either late November or December, barring any supply chain issues or construction complications.
“We’re excited about bringing Dunkin’ to Fort Wright,” Holland said. “The property that we’ve purchased allows us to have a drive-thru window which is the preferred building for a Dunkin’. We look forward to serving the Fort Wright area. Our hope is that we will open this winter if all goes well.”
Mike and Heather Monson purchased the Dixie Highway SubStation II in 2005. The location originally opened in 1989.
“It’s a big blow to us, but hopefully it’ll be fantastic for the community,” Monson said. “For myself, maybe I’ll be able to move on to bigger things. With the property being developed and with the revitalizion of Dixie Highway, hopefully it’ll spark some big changes for the city.”
Community members expressed their sadness on social media upon hearing the news of SubStation II’s impending closure. Monson said many people have visited the store to show support and share memories.
“I’ve been doing it so long, there were kids that used to work for me that were in high school and now they’re bringing their kids.” Monson said. “It’s been very touching.”
As of now, Monson said he has no plans to reopen due to a difficulty in finding a storefront. He explored trying to find a new location, but nothing has come to fruition. Classic Hair Design, SubStation II’s next-door neighbor in the building, did find a new location in Crestview Hills.
SubStation II is a franchise with 40 locations across five states: Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. In order to fully construct a new building, it would require capital, permits and a viable location, which is an extensive process.
“I went and visited several locations and tried to find a natural fit where it would be minimal construction to be able to just transition right into,” Monson said. “Unfortunately there were none of those locations, especially in this area.”
Monson said he’s looking forward to spending time with his family and pursuing other opportunities.
“I just hope that the OneHolland Group can care for the community as much as we have and that they’re still giving back to our firefighters, police and schools because they’re a fantastic group of people,” Monson said.
Holland told LINK nky that Monson was “a very talented business man with an excellent reputation in the community.”
“We’ve eaten at SubStation II for years. Mr. Monson has done a great job there,” Holland said.