Technicolor artwork created by the same artists can be found in both locations. However, instead of being a cookie cutter build, the restaurant's decor is tailored to the spaces Sarber and her team find.
“We’re now referring to Covington as our OG,” she says. “It's special, you know, it’s in an over 100-year-old building and has a lot of history in the city with Covington. This one in Lexington is a much cleaner look. It’s very polished. You definitely know when you walk in that it's our brand, which is super important to us. The lighting is all different, but it still has the same know-it-when-you-see-it feel.”
After the development of the second location got underway, the brand’s expansion strategy kicked off. Sarber plans on opening six new stores by the end of 2020, followed by 15 or more annually in the following years.
The chain plans on entering the Ohio market later this year. It has a unit slated for Liberty Township, Ohio, in mid-October. This new location will mirror the Lexington spot, but with a larger layout. Sarber adds the development team isn’t looking for one specific real estate box for restaurants. Everything from an urban location to a mall or even another historical building are on the table.
The restaurant’s design is also evolving to fit customer needs. Delivery and takeout was a part of the business from day one. On a typical Saturday night at the Covington location, Agave can do about 300 orders, Sarber says. However, those orders have to go through the bar, which can be difficult for customers and is an operational nightmare for employees.