New Liquor Barn

It looks like a new Liquor Barn will be opening shortly in St. Matthews on the corner of Shelbyville and Fairmeade Rds.
The building looks complete and the signage is hung.

[Robin Garr]

It looks like a new Liquor Barn will be opening shortly in St. Matthews on the corner of Shelbyville and Fairmeade Rds.
The building looks complete and the signage is hung.

WHOA!! I could get used to that. One less reason to go outside the Watterson!

Remember those of you who don't like chains, the Liquor Barn is a chain which was recently purchased by a Canadian firm:-)

[Robin Garr]

Remember those of you who don't like chains, the Liquor Barn is a chain which was recently purchased by a Canadian firm:-)

Whoa, I didn't remember that. I actually do prefer the smaller locals like Old Town, Gemelli, Wine Rack, St. Matthews Wine Co., etc., anyway. Still, it sort of makes sense to have the Chain Liquor Barn so near the Chain Whole Foods ...

While Liquor Barn is indeed a chain I guess I don't consider that as objectionable as a restaurant chain. I guess it's probably because all liquor stores basically sell the same products, it's not as if they have their own distillery in the back room making boutique products. In general chain liquor stores also there may have a better selection because of their bigger buying power. This is opposed to restaurants where the chain's don't get very original in their menu choices because they have the same products everywhere and innovation is not encouraged like it is at an independent restaurant.

While I certainly like going to some of the local wine shops I don't try to avoid Liquor Barn like I do many of the chain restaurants. Maybe this is different than how most people feel but.......

Just to clear up confusion, here is a re-post of Brad Williams' comment on the new ownership from August, as well as some reassurance that the previous ownership and current management would continue with general autonomy and continued support for the community.

From: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7227&hilit=liquor+barn&start=15

Guys,

A few quick things:

First off, the Springhurst location is not closing. The renovated Growler/draft beer bar and tasting area has been a big success so far. 40 tap handles was ambitious but it has exceeded our expectations. That store will continue to be open. You should stop by on a Friday night around 530 and enjoy it.

In November, a brand new Liquor Barn will open in the old Huffman car lot space mentioned above. We are in the process of renovating the previous building and property and are on track to open on schedule.

It will be a great store that will include a 20 handle draft system for samples, flights of beer and growlers. It will have a large walk in cigar humidor and food department that our customers are used to. It will be a great store at a great location. We're excited to enter St. Matthews.

Paul, don't you worry too much. The weekly and bi-monthly wine sessions and tastings will continue as usual. Patrick and the crew will be around to keep you from getting too thirsty.

We will continue to host brewers, distillers and wine makers in that area also.

There IS an agreement in place with a new company.

All of the key players will remain in place from managers, buyers, IT, accountants and down the totem pole.

The current owner WILL still have a role in the new company. He will continue to consult on the overall operations and will continue to hunt down great wines for great values from across the globe.

Personally, I'm excited about what I believe is about to happen as is the current owner and the President.

We will continue to support local and regional beverage products, food products, charities and the arts communities here in Louisville and throughout KY. Over the years we've tried very hard to support our local friends and business entities and that is still our plan.

Thanks to all for the kind words. Myself and lots of others here in Louisville will be striving to keep the liquor barns you're used to and...possibly make them even better than they've been before.

Thanks,

Brad Williams,
General Manager
Liquor Barn

[Robin Garr]

some reassurance that the previous ownership and current management would continue with general autonomy and continued support for the community.

I want to believe, I truly do. Yet I can't ever forget my burned-in memory of Allen Neuharth, then CEO of Gannett Corp., standing on a desk in The Courier-Journal newsroom (he always did that, because he was only about 4'11") and saying, "You will be the jewel in our crown, and we will never change a thing except to make it better."

Yup. Heard the same thing at LEO. Twice. Outside of the community ownership translates into outside of the community interests.

Yup. Heard the same thing at LEO. Twice. Outside of the community ownership translates into outside of the community interests.

and of course Outside of the community ownership translates to all the profits going outside the community.

Hey. I'm telling you now I have seen chains come in before and they will keep everybody for now just so they don't rock the boat, especially with the holidays coming up, but they will eventually bring their own people in. I'm strictly talking management. That's who always doesn't make the cut. Right now is the time to stick with the independents, like everyone preaches with the restaurants, keep the money in Kentucky and don't send it to Canada. Liquor stores and restaurants are the same regardless of what some people in the forum think. SHOP LOCAL INDEPENDENTS!!!!!

Yup. Heard the same thing at LEO. Twice. Outside of the community ownership translates into outside of the community interests.

and of course Outside of the community ownership translates to all the profits going outside the community.

Hmmmmmmmm.....Valid point or not it kinda strikes me as rather poor taste to lay the mouth on a competitor. Just MHO mind you.

A line has to be drawn at some point on the limits of buying local. Should I only drink BBC beer and bourbon because it is made in KY. Think of all the money going out of state or country when drinking tequila, rum, or import/micro beer. I agree shopping local is the way to go, but buying has limits. Plus, the Barn has a far superior selection to any of the independents. What would happen to the Louisville economy if all the chains/foreign owned companies closed? How many people would be out of work?

Remember those of you who don't like chains, the Liquor Barn is a chain which was recently purchased by a Canadian firm:-)

Whoa, I didn't remember that. I actually do prefer the smaller locals like Old Town, Gemelli, Wine Rack, St. Matthews Wine Co., etc., anyway. Still, it sort of makes sense to have the Chain Liquor Barn so near the Chain Whole Foods ...

Ahhhhhh, I'm thinking going to fall of on the side of "I don't give a diddly dad-burned where the profits go or how many stores the place has" on this one. It's nice that this forum supports the independent restaurant scene in L'ville but lumping the Liquor Barn into that same category we throw the likes of Denny's and Macaroni Grill seems to be going a bit far fetched. If I were a wine drinker and constantly on the lookout for esoteric, hard to find wines, than yea, I'd be all over town in my quest...But I'm not, so I don't. The people at "The Barn" have always been friendly, knowledgeable and efficient, the selection is excellent and the products are priced very reasonably. The Liquor Barn rocks and will continue to get 90% of my "Liquor Dollar".

The fact that I day dream about someday holding a management position with this company has absolutely no bearing on my opinion...

Sorry. Carry on.

A line has to be drawn at some point on the limits of buying local. Should I only drink BBC beer and bourbon because it is made in KY. Think of all the money going out of state or country when drinking tequila, rum, or import/micro beer. I agree shopping local is the way to go, but buying has limits. Plus, the Barn has a far superior selection to any of the independents. What would happen to the Louisville economy if all the chains/foreign owned companies closed? How many people would be out of work?

Also, Liquor Barn SELLS (and therefore buys from producers of) products made locally and in Kentucky, including beer, bourbon, and food items. Applebees, on the other hand, isn't putting BBC Beer on tap and isn't sourcing their food locally at all. There is a differce that goes far beyond the fact that chains employ locally - a "chain" like Liquor Barn does support the local economy simply by virtue of SELLING items produced locally. I would venture to say that a local producer such as BBC (and also other non-local craft producers like Schlafly) has more of their product sold in Liquor Barn (and maybe Kroger) in this area than the independent stores combined.

A line has to be drawn at some point on the limits of buying local. Should I only drink BBC beer and bourbon because it is made in KY. Think of all the money going out of state or country when drinking tequila, rum, or import/micro beer. I agree shopping local is the way to go, but buying has limits. Plus, the Barn has a far superior selection to any of the independents. What would happen to the Louisville economy if all the chains/foreign owned companies closed? How many people would be out of work?

Also, Liquor Barn SELLS (and therefore buys from producers of) products made locally and in Kentucky, including beer, bourbon, and food items. Applebees, on the other hand, isn't putting BBC Beer on tap and isn't sourcing their food locally at all. There is a differce that goes far beyond the fact that chains employ locally - a "chain" like Liquor Barn does support the local economy simply by virtue of SELLING items produced locally. I would venture to say that a local producer such as BBC (and also other non-local craft producers like Schlafly) has more of their product sold in Liquor Barn (and maybe Kroger) in this area than the independent stores combined.

Great point.

These are just the locals on tap.

Local/Regional

Sheltowee Hop-A-Lot IPA

Sheltowee 502 Amber Ale

Sheltowee Gloomsucker Black Ale

Kentucky Bourbon Ale

BBC Bourbon Barrel Stout

BBC Oaked Uberfest (St. Matthews)

BBC Bourbon Barrel Old St. Matthews

BBC Munich Ale

Nitro BBC Heine Brothers Coffee Stout

Browning’s Octoberfest

Cumberland Brews Nitro Porter

New Albanian 15b Porter

New Albanian Beak’s Best