Who we are
About Zim’s Cafe
The Zim’s Cafe menu is a tribute to the exceptional ingredients from Kentucky farms and producers, which we have honored at all of our Central Kentucky restaurants since 2001, when my husband, Chris, and I opened the Holly Hill Inn in Midway. At Zim’s, guests will enjoy longtime sandwich favorites from our Wallace Station Deli and Windy Corner Market, and desserts and treats from The Midway Bakery. Our chefs create delicious specials from their Saturday visits to the Lexington Farmer’s Market right outside the door!
Zim’s guests can enjoy full bar service from The Thirsty Fox, our bar across the courthouse foyer. The Thirsty Fox carries the finest Kentucky bourbons and spirits. Stop by for a craft cocktail or beer during Thursday Night Live or before a UK game. Order from the Zim’s menu at The Thirsty Fox!
We are proud to serve Kentucky food to Kentuckians and visitors from all over the world. Fried and fresh is what we do best. Welcome to Zim’s!
Please visit OuitaMichel.com for more about Ouita Michel and her Family of Restaurants.
Where we live
About the Historic Fayette County Courthouse
The courthouse was restored and reopened for business in 2018 by AU Associates of Lexington, owned by Holly Wiedemann. AU stands for “adaptive use,” and Wiedemann’s company has restored and repurposed almost 30 historic buildings in cities large and small in the region. The circa-1900 courthouse had undergone a “hideous modernization” in 1960, with most of the historic interior stripped and discarded, and its dramatic dome covered by ceilings. The courthouse, which last housed the Lexington History Museum, was closed to the public in 2012 because of lead paint contamination.
AU Associates renovated the courthouse with an eye to its original grandeur, employing artisans as well as energy efficiencies. State and federal historic preservation tax credits worth $8 million helped pay for the renovation. The courthouse’s tenants are Zim’s Cafe, The Thirsty Fox at Zim’s Cafe, VisitLex, the Lexington Visitors Center, the Breeders’ Cup and Limestone Hall event space.