By Scott Voelker

Soups and sandwiches have taken the place of strikes and spares in the former Lexington Lanes. The Patisserie, a catering service and bakery, has moved into the front corner suite of the ex- bowling alley. A comfortable, living-room style atmosphere--complete with leather couches and paintings on the walls--sits where the snack bar used to reside.

Photo by Pat McGlone

Kayla Finlay, the owner of the new eatery, describes the eatery as making “wonderfully prepared meals to go.” She is quick to point out that the Patisserie is not a restaurant -- there is no wait staff--but a professional catering service that also serves fresh salads, sandwiches, soups and several entrees every day. Customers can take a meal with them or enjoy it at one of the eatery’s several small tables or sitting in a leather-couch seating area.

When customers arrive, Finlay herself is quick to show the patrons around her new eatery. She points out the soups and salads and the fresh pastries that are made by two chefs, Pennie Griffin and Higgins Stewart.

The Patisserie opened Feb. 4, and Finlay says she has been excited by the response. Initially thinking that most of her business would come from catering, Finlay said that recently the eatery and catering services have brought about the same number of customers.

One potential drawback, however, is the eatery’s location. Situated more than 10 minutes north of downtown, patrons must drive to get there. This makes grabbing a quick lunch at the new eatery more difficult than eating in Lexington itself. Finlay, however, doesn’t think that the location will be a problem. “It’s a charming, friendly environment,” she said, “unlike what you can find in Lexington.”

Carole Bailey, a Patisserie lunch customer and Lexington resident, agrees. She said that she was “pleasantly surprised” with her first experience at the eatery and “would definitely go back again.”

Another customer, however, did say that the distance from town would make it tougher to eat there on a regular basis. “I will come back, but I couldn’t make the drive all the time,” she said.

Whether there is a market for another small eatery and catering service in the Lexington area remains to be seen. There are already several in-town eateries with which the Patisserie will have to compete - places such as the Blue Sky Bakery and A Joyful Spirit.

Although the building looks the same from the outside, the Patisserie has taken over the front left corner of the former alley and has completely changed its style. Local residents will now have to drive to Staunton for a bowling experience. The Patisserie is now the only thing they will find at the former Lexington bowling site.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming out to the old bowling alley,” Bailey said, “but I wound up with a wonderful meal.”
 

Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.

Lead supervisor:      Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming

Editing supervisor:  Prof. Pamela Luecke

Technical supervisor:  Michael Todd