A pharmacist-turned-restaurateur has carved out Villa Hills' only full-service restaurant inside a residential subdivision, and the neighborhood keeps finding it.
Andy Hagelman opened Sanctuary Social at 1090 Walburg Ave. in December 2024, tucked inside the Sanctuary subdivision where he lives. The location requires navigating winding residential streets with no visibility from a main corridor. Hagelman leans into it.
"This place is all word of mouth, social media, it's all Google searches, and you have to question your GPS driving here," Hagelman told LINK nky in a feature published Aug. 1. "That's kind of the big joke."
The NKY Chamber of Commerce spotlighted the restaurant as a member business on Monday, Aug. 10.
Hagelman spent 16 years as a retail pharmacist before pivoting. He and his wife, Randie Sue Hagelman, a former food and beverage director at the Radisson, began planning the restaurant in October 2023. Construction started in April 2024.
The menu spans smoked meats, flatbreads, hoagies, tacos, wraps and salads. Meat is smoked overnight on a wood-and-charcoal smoker. All sauces and dressings are made in house. Prices range from an $8 pulled pork sandwich to a $25 smoked wagyu brisket platter, with flatbreads running $14 to $20.
Hagelman's approach favors smaller portions than typical restaurant fare. The interior features a lounge with leather chairs, a full bourbon-lined bar and a dining area. A back patio overlooks a community green with a gazebo.
The restaurant hosts live music, trivia nights and a weekend bucket golf league on the patio. It also offers event catering.
In 2026, Sanctuary Social won four LINK nky Readers' Choice categories: best business lunch, best bourbon selection, best casual dining and best cocktails. The restaurant had earned nominations in 2025 after being open just eight weeks.
Hours are Tuesday 3–10 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., according to the restaurant's website. Closed Monday. Reservations are available at sanctuary-social.com or by calling 859-331-0715.
The restaurant's inaugural Summer Fest is scheduled for Aug. 15, from noon to 9:30 p.m., with live music, local vendors, family activities and free admission.
