Westside businesses

Locally-owned stores have taken root in Westside from Pike Street to MLK — we’re proud to host more home-grown family businesses than any other neighborhood in Covington. From delis to dog-grooming, Westside has it all. Here’s a quick list, with more to come soon. Walk down the street and patronize these neighborhood anchors!

No business epitomizes Westside more than Gutierrez Deli, serving residents for 13 years…with owner Claudio’s personal journey and dream front and center. Where else can you get sugar-cane cokes, Mexican beer and dozens of south-of-the-border staples, the best tamales (and so much more) in the tri-state, and veggies grown on-site? And Claudio and his family live next door (literally) — this truly is the anchor of Westside.

Wunderbar has held down the other side of Lee St for just as long, serving a quirky mix of German food, bluegrass music, and skateboards. Homemade sausages and pretzels, music most nights, and bar staff that have worked here from the start? You really can’t find a more down-home, whatever-the-opposite-of-pretentious-is bar in Covington. Mainstrasse may have more bars, but Westside has Wunderbar, with the best grub, staff, and family-friendly atmosphere in the city.

Another destination that’s put Westside back on the map is Olla Taqueria, slinging unmatched tacos on MLK since 2021. As fantastic as the food is — and locally-owned and family-operated — Olla does so much more than stew its famous birria. It really is a cultural center for the Westside and beyond, hosting the biggest Dia de los Muertos fest around and a lowrider ‘cruze-in’ that’s the most distinctive event on the Covington calendar. Sergio and Alyssa are rooted in Covington and have built a place that acknowledges, celebrates, and advocates for the Mexican - Guatemalan - Honduran community that calls Westside and all of Covington home.

Longtime Covington Independent Schools art teacher Katie Kit has brought a one-of-a-kind community resource to Westside. Artmarkit repurposes gently used art supplies and provides studio space and instruction to Covington artists of all ages. Located on Holman St, on the edge of Westside’s old artisan quarter, Artmarkit is reviving the crafting tradition of the neighborhood!

Model Fit is the first fitness studio on the Westside lane of Pike St, and its ethos fits the neighborhood just right. If you’ve wandered by from predawn to dusk, you’ve seen your neighbors happily sweating away at Model Fit. Personal training that meets you where you are, approachable and carefully tailored to your goals and experience.

Westsiders keep lots of dogs, so folks were excited to welcome 4 Hounds to Pike Street. From grooming to doggie treats to gear of all sorts, we…erm, our dogs…are lucky to have the personal attention that Chris and Ken have brought to Westside with yet another family business.

David Renaker-Jansen brought Red Bird Deli to Pike Street in 2023, adding a farm-to-table offering to Westside fare. The menu features everything from every cut of chicken to steak to tuna to smashed burgers and a wide range of potatoes to veggies. Check out more of David’s journey in this LinkNKY piece. Westside is glad to have Red Bird take over this staple of a restaurant space!