Need opinions about restaurant location

There are some interesting locations around St. Matthews.

Not being in the biz I know diddly about zoning or what would be an appropriate site but I was just walking down Chenoweth and saw that there are at least 3 of those converted houses that are shuttered boutiques or other businesses and seem to be available with parking out back. And just to the left of the St. Matthews feed and seed there's a neat commercial building that's been available for lease for at least 4 months. At first blush, parking could be an issue, but if you're a dinner spot you could probably work out a deal with the feed and seed since I think they close early.

Alternately, the area around Doll's market seems like it's crying out for a restaurant. The burned out building that used to be Azalea is still empty, I wonder if it's available?

There are plenty of locations around town that are the kiss of death apparently. There's one that has been empty since I moved here in 2003! It's in the strip mall near CVS and a chiropractor's office. I believe at one point it was Michael E's for five minutes and has been for lease ever since. The location is horrible, pure suicide to make a left turn out of there. I have no idea if it stays empty due to just the traffic issue or if they're asking too much on the lease.

It looks like they've either canceled or put on the hold the strip mall that was going in at the corner of Hurstbourne and South Watterson Trail (the new part west of Bardstown Road). The signs were taken down anyway. There's lots of empty space in the strip mall by Meijer on Hurstbourne and more in the one in front of Glenmary.

Just more cases in point that just because a plot of land is empty doesn't mean it needs a strip mall. If you build it, the dust bunnies will come.

They've been talking about a strip mall at Manslick/Smyrna/Snyder for 10 years now. Used to be a lovely spot for community gardens. Would still be a lovely spot, seeing that zero construction has happened. I know there were some zoning issues to address, but last I heard the property had been sold. Not exactly sure what would go there, seeing that Bardstown (Fern Creek) and Preston - 7 miles apart - have about one of every chain these days.

Sorry if this is a thread hijack.

How about Norton Commons?

How about the former Club Grotto location? Is it still open?

[Robin Garr]

i second heather's suggestion...
great ambiance at norton commons for a french place.

No, it would have to be American dressed up to look like French.

What about that new strip mall at Bardstown and Grinstead? Is anything ever going in there?

Landlords are a BIG part of the difficulty in locating a restaurant. It seems they think they can still demand rent and leases priced from about 5 years ago, despite the down market we are in. That Danielle's spot has great space, but ungodly rent. (we looked into it a while back) Was that Mediterranean Market ever open?

The Bauers/Azalea building IS going to be a restaurant again. And the drugstore will be built behind it. The neighborhood got a new turn lane out front, so supported the drugstore development.

What about that new strip mall at Bardstown and Grinstead? Is anything ever going in there?

Yeah, that's been empty EVER SINCE they renovated it. I guess they are asking too much rent - are they ever going to come down? It's a ridiculous corner to keep empty...

It's a shame that there's not enough interest in eating dinner downtown (assuming that this is correct). The old Pesto's building is beautiful & there's a ton of parking nearby.

It's a shame that there's not enough interest in eating dinner downtown (assuming that this is correct). The old Pesto's building is beautiful & there's a ton of parking nearby.

Since I've been working DT for the last couple of months I have not had a chance to get back to some of my DT dining haunts. Is Pestos closed now?
(Sorry , didn't mean to hijack the thread.)

On the 5th Street location, yeah, that would probably not work for a dinner-focused retaurant. I differ with some that seem to indicate that upscale dinner doesn't happen in downtown proper (Proof, Z's Fusion, Oak Room, English Grill, Theatre Square, Rivue, Jeff Ruby's, and Sapporo come to mind, not to mention less upscale options like the BBC and everything around the arena), but at this point in downtown's comeback it really would have to be along Main close to 21C, near the convention center, or in the theatre district area to have a chance for dinner success.

It's a shame that there's not enough interest in eating dinner downtown (assuming that this is correct). The old Pesto's building is beautiful & there's a ton of parking nearby.

Since I've been working DT for the last couple of months I have not had a chance to get back to some of my DT dining haunts. Is Pestos closed now?
(Sorry , didn't mean to hijack the thread.)

My mistake. I wasn't paying enough attention & read "next to Pesto's" as "Pesto's".

On the 5th Street location, yeah, that would probably not work for a dinner-focused retaurant. I differ with some that seem to indicate that upscale dinner doesn't happen in downtown proper (Proof, Z's Fusion, Oak Room, English Grill, Theatre Square, Rivue, Jeff Ruby's, and Sapporo come to mind, not to mention less upscale options like the BBC and everything around the arena), but at this point in downtown's comeback it really would have to be along Main close to 21C, near the convention center, or in the theatre district area to have a chance for dinner success.

There are several empty buildings across from the Slugger Museum (at least one of them is on a corner). I'm honestly not familiar enough w/ that particular area to know if they're for rent or if someone is restoring them or what.

There are several empty buildings across from the Slugger Museum (at least one of them is on a corner). I'm honestly not familiar enough w/ that particular area to know if they're for rent or if someone is restoring them or what.

Are those some of the ones that are part of the museum plaza project?

[Robin Garr]

... I differ with some that seem to indicate that upscale dinner doesn't happen in downtown proper (Proof, Z's Fusion, Oak Room, English Grill, Theatre Square, Rivue, Jeff Ruby's, and Sapporo come to mind, not to mention less upscale options like the BBC and everything around the arena), but at this point in downtown's comeback it really would have to be along Main close to 21C, near the convention center, or in the theatre district area to have a chance for dinner success.

Yeah, good point, Brad. Insofar as I suggested that, I should have clarified "On Fifth south of Muhammad Ali or on any other block that requires a walk of one block or more away from where people are."