Benny Snell looking to save Two Keys Tavern in Lexington

Former Kentucky football star Benny Snell is looking to save Two Keys Tavern in Lexington.

After filing for bankruptcy earlier this month and officially taking down its signage on Friday afternoon, Snell put out a call for fans to help him get in contact with the building’s landlord.

“KENTUCKY FAM I need help getting in contact with the landlord of TWO KEYS TAVERN,” Snell wrote on Twitter. “Please help any info would be helpful thanks.”

KENTUCKY FAM i need help getting in contact with the landlord of TWO KEYS TAVERN please help any info would be helpful thanks 💙

— Mr SNELL YA LATER👋🏾 (@benny_snell) August 1, 2020

In less than an hour, the former Wildcat followed up with his initial request and confirmed that he got in contact with the landlord.

“Update I found them,” he wrote. “Thanks for the help!!! Big change [on the way.”

Update I found them. Thanks for the help!!!💙 big change otw.. https://t.co/INqcIaHXW5

— Mr SNELL YA LATER👋🏾 (@benny_snell) August 1, 2020

Back on July 10, Two Keys officially filed for Chapter 11 protection with the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky due to the impact of the Covid-19 shutdown, along with the business’ long-standing dispute with the landlord.

In a statement provided to KSR, Two Keys assured its loyal bar-goers that the campus staple “will either continue to operate in its current location, or move to a new home nearby.”

Will Kentucky football’s all-time leading rusher be the reason Two Keys turns its lights back on or finds a new home elsewhere?

He seems to be on a mission to help either way.

In his time at Kentucky, Snell started in 27 of 39 career games, including 26 straight. In that span, the star running back broke or tied 14 school records, including becoming UK’s all-time leader in career rushing yards (3,873), total touchdowns (48), rushing touchdowns (48) and 100-yard games (19).

Here are just a few of the other records he broke in his time as a Wildcat:

• Points in a season (116 in ’17)
• TDs in a season (19 in ’17
• Rushing TDs in a season (19 in ’17)
• Consecutive games with a rushing TD (6 in ’17)
• Rushing yards by a sophomore (1,333 in ’17)
• Recorded his 40th career TD in just 31 games, the second fastest to do so in SEC history
• 3,873 rushing yards rank 12th in SEC history and fifth before a senior season
• Ranks third in SEC history in rushing touchdowns
• Trails only Herschel Walker (49) for the most rushing TDs prior to his senior season in SEC history
• Joined Herschel Walker as the only two players in SEC history to rush for at least 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons
• First player in school history with three 1,000-yard seasons (1,091 in 2016; 1,333 in 2017; 1,449 in 2018)
• First player in program history to have four touchdowns in a game twice in a career (vs. New Mexico State in 2016 and vs. Mississippi State in 2018)
• First-team All-SEC in 2018, second-team All-SEC in 2017 and Freshman All-SEC in 2016

After being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Snell finished with 426 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 108 total attempts as a rookie.