The Jillian's Controversy- Can This Historic Building be Saved?

The building that formerly housed Jilllian's on 12th street in Covington is not a protected historic building.

While the former Bavarian Brewery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it's not in a local zone. In addition, the National Register of Historic Places told me that as long as there are no federal monies attached to the building, "owners have no obligation to open their properties to the public, to restore them or even to maintain them, if they choose not to do so."

There's only way to stop a new buyer from doing whatever they want to the Jillian's brewery. If the city of Covington or the 12th Street development plan initiates a design review, there's hope that this building could be saved.

A brief history of the Covington Jillians Entertainment Complex:

• In 1949, the Bavarian Brewery purchased the Heidelberg Brewery on West 12th and what's known today as "Jillians Way."


• The International Brewing Company bought the Bavarian label rights and closed the plant in 1966.


• After sitting vacant for years, Ken Lewis, the Party Source proprietor, purchased the property with the intention of demolishing it and building a new Party Source location.


• Lewis instead remodeled to the tune of $11 million and opened Brew Works, a microbrewery. It did not fare well and in 1998, Louisville-based Jillian's opened the Jillian's Covington complex.


• Jillian's shut down on July 27, 2006.

The property is currently assessed at $3.6 million.