Skyline Chili is coming to Clermont County. The Cincinnati chili chain announced it will open a new parlor in Batavia, a 3,832-square-foot restaurant seating 122 guests, with the project carrying an estimated $1 million price tag according to public records.
The chain confirmed via social media on August 27 that the new location will sit at 2184 Winemiller Lane, as reported by WKRC. That address sits near Clermont County's primary commercial and lodging hub off the State Route 32 corridor near Eastgate, an area that has seen steady development connecting suburban Cincinnati to eastern Ohio, according to Discover Clermont County. An exact opening date and operating hours have not yet been determined, though the station's report points to an early 2027 debut.
The Batavia project will be brought to Clermont County by the Chantilas/Drew family, whose involvement in Skyline Chili franchising spans over five decades, tracing back to early franchisee George Chantilas, according to a Skyline Chili social media post. Franchisees play a central role in Skyline's regional business model, with family groups often operating multiple parlors across the Tri-State area.
A Chain On A Building Spree
Skyline Chili now counts more than 130 locations across the country, per the same account from WKRC, and the Batavia parlor is only the latest in a string of 2026 openings. In June, the chain opened its largest location to date, an 8,900-square-foot flagship on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati that seats 200 guests and features Skyline's first-ever beer and wine bar, according to Cincinnati CityBeat. That flagship converted a prominent vacant brewpub space into a downtown dining hub.
That same month, Skyline relocated Kentucky's oldest parlor in Covington into a converted former Frisch's Big Boy site, opening a 1950s retro-themed diner equipped with a drive-thru, as reported by LINK nky. The original Covington parlor had operated at Third and Philadelphia streets for 55 years before the move two blocks away. In April, a holding company tied to multi-unit franchisee Steve Misleh acquired vacant land near the Norwood Lateral Parkway for $1 million to build a new restaurant targeted for a 2027 opening, per the Xavier Newswire — a project Hoodline previously covered as Skyline's new Norwood roost. Misleh's parents were among Skyline's early franchisees in the 1960s, and his team currently operates four locations.
Who's Steering The Expansion
Commercial real estate firm North American Properties and the Williams family acquired controlling ownership of Skyline Chili in December 2020, overseeing a system in which roughly 75% of its 130-plus restaurants are franchise-operated, according to North American Properties. Former Cincinnati Reds general manager Dick Williams took over as interim CEO and board chairman in June 2023, following the retirement of 32-year company executive Kevin McDonnell, per WVXU. Williams had previously served on Skyline's board before stepping into the top job.
The chain has also been updating its back-of-house operations to keep pace with delivery demand. In January 2025, Skyline integrated Otter Middleware across its network of more than 135 stores to translate between in-store registers and third-party delivery apps, eliminating manual order entry by kitchen staff. Skyline's menu customization with its signature “ways” and coneys had previously created software compatibility headaches with delivery partners.
Rooted In Price Hill, Reaching Beyond Ohio
Skyline Chili traces back to October 8, 1949, when Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides founded the chain in Cincinnati's Price Hill neighborhood, naming it for the downtown skyline visible from the original spot, according to Wikipedia. Lambrinides brought Mediterranean spice recipes to the city, sparking what became a regional culinary staple now marking its 77th year.
The brand's restaurant network today is concentrated across four core states — Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida — alongside seasonal venues such as the Cleveland Guardians' spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona. That footprint has thinned in some corners even as it grows in others: Hoodline reported in April that Skyline Chili closed its remaining locations in southwest Florida after a 38-year run there ended as local franchisees retired.
For now, Clermont County residents will have to wait for a firm date before they can order a three-way at the new Winemiller Lane parlor. Skyline has not yet released hours or a specific opening day beyond the early 2027 window.
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