Covington renaissance continues with new downtown restaurant

Downtown Covington has seen a recent surge in redevelopment efforts, including the expansion of Gateway Community & Technical College, the renovation of the Mutual Building and Hotel Covington and the introduction of Braxton Brewing. Baron Shirley, a local entrepreneur, is adding to the city’s new offerings by opening Inspirado at 715 Madison Ave.
 
Shirley has been looking for a restaurant space for a long time and originally scouted locations in Over-the-Rhine. But rent was high, he says, and there are already so many restaurants there. So he began to look elsewhere and eventually focused on Covington.
 
“There’s so much good going on here, and I wanted to bring a beautiful space with good food, craft beer and cocktails,” Shirley says. “Think of it as bringing a little bit of OTR to Covington.”
 
Shirley’s idea for the restaurant stems from a conversation he’s had with his wife over and over.
 
“We always ask each other, ‘What’s for dinner?’” he says. “I wanted to expand on that and offer a menu with something for everyone.”
 
The restaurant’s menu will feature a globally inspired menu with comfort foods from all over the world. Shirley says there will be some regular favorites, including a burger, hot brown and BLT.
 
Shirley partnered with Pandemonium Gallery to create an art gallery within Inspirado with art by local artists. In the near future, the second floor of the building will feature an art gallery and wine bar. And even though Inspirado won’t be open for lunch on Saturdays, but it will offer a wine painting class during that time.
 
When Inspirado debuts on Sept. 16, it will be open for lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday and for dinner 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.