Genny's Diner: There is no diner there

The new Comfy Cow... yeah, next to where the Old Genny's Diner used to be.

I just felt like that had to be said. But it doesn't have the same ring as the Old Sears Building.

I am so glad Genny's and scary Frank Faris are gone from this, my neighborhood. Walking by there always gave me the creeps. The place was an eyesore (the diner and the old house). Thank you Comfy Cow for remodeling the old house, which has character, and getting rid of the nasty, dirty Genny's building! I never ate there but after hearing several horror stories about what it had become just about grossed me out. The Twig on the other hand looks like a place worth saving and the food there is really good.

The main problem here is now there are thousands of cock-a-roaches that are homeless. Hope the surrounding restaurants spray well in the aftermath.

I will forever be scarred by the one and only time I was in Genny's about 15 years ago and saw a cock-a-roach making his way across the counter where food was actively begin served with no human terribly interested or concerned about the journey. I was equally horrified when I saw his friends making similar plans toward the bottom of the display case underneath.

I have since heard similar horror stories from employees who had worked there.

I am mainly sorry that Genny's wasn't a better place and that Faris didn't respect what he had more than he did. When you have something really neat, you cannot squander it!

People throw stuff on the historic registry all the time to prevent things they dont want done in this town. See also the East End Bridge and the Iron Quarter. So glad we can preserve Louisville a good thirty years behind everywhere else.

People throw stuff on the historic registry all the time to prevent things they dont want done in this town. See also the East End Bridge and the Iron Quarter. So glad we can preserve Louisville a good thirty years behind everywhere else.

See also the I-64 tunnel, which needs a dynamite treatment, not preservation.

Old = historic? Does that make someone from the '50s 'historic'?

In any case, good riddance! And what's Faris up to these days?

For those of you hell-bent against preservation, you'll be happy to know it's a limited fad. Buildings today aren't built to be torn down and replaced, so this issue will only remain relevant for a limited time.

It's not a matter of being anti-preservation, it's a matter of when something sits there and NO ONE is using it or keeping it up, or something that would better server the entire community than the 200 people who would just come and stare at it, it needs to go.

It's not a matter of being anti-preservation, it's a matter of when something sits there and NO ONE is using it or keeping it up, or something that would better server the entire community than the 200 people who would just come and stare at it, it needs to go.

That's an easy one. The reason that no one was using it or keeping it up was because Frank Faris owned it and wouldn't turn loose of it. His end goal was to let it run down through neglect and arson so he could tear it down for a parking lot. Preserving a Victorian home serves the community; letting it rot does not. Evidence that the only reason it was rotting was because Faris was sitting on the property: as soon as it became available, the Comfy Cow folks bought it and began to renovate it. It will soon be a very useful property that many people will visit, with the added benefit of being an example of Victorian architecture that will enrich the streetscape.

His end goal was to let it run down through neglect and arson so he could tear it down for a parking lot.

I get the distinct feeling that's what Cobalt/Blue did with the Main St./Iron Quarter property. Not arson, but hoping the sheer neglect would give the advantage needed to tear them down. One look at Patrick O'Shea's shows what could have been done with those buildings had they not been neglected.

His end goal was to let it run down through neglect and arson so he could tear it down for a parking lot.

I get the distinct feeling that's what Cobalt/Blue did with the Main St./Iron Quarter property. Not arson, but hoping the sheer neglect would give the advantage needed to tear them down. One look at Patrick O'Shea's shows what could have been done with those buildings had they not been neglected.

I think anybody who closely followed the story would have to agree with that! Blue was putting on a good front making everybody think he was going to preserve them when in reality he was just waiting for them to fall down.

My Grandma Sylvia (not by blood, but that's how she signed cards to me for many years [my mom's mom died when she was young and I never had a single grandparent throughout my whole life until Sylvia]) sold the house to Frank. I won't go into too many details about the sale, but it was not pleasant - and my mom was her realtor so I know all the dirt. If you look at the photos, the furnishings in the background that were damaged by fire belonged to Sylvia - she was denied repossession of them after vacating in spite of shallow promises. She had dreams of opening an antique store and I own ten tons of treasures given to me by her (a pair of enormous and ornate antique chairs that once belonged to the dean of the University of Chicago among them). She passed two summers ago, and as you can imagine, my mother and I really wish she was around to see this development. As the Buddhist she was, she would have chanted for him, but she would have loved The Comfy Cow for bringing light again to her former home. Sylvia was a saint, and everyone that knew her would agree. I've been a little quiet about this until now for fear of spreading gossip, but I'm speaking truth, and somewhat out of love for my grandma Sylvia.

p.s. this is Mom: yes, Jackie has it right...but, for all that don't know this...Frank Faris at closing announced that he was going to tear down the queen anne,at which Silvia replied, " you fool, I have told you over and over, you can't because it is on the Historical Registry!" this was pretty strong for Silvia to say such a thing..as she was not taken to speak unkind to anyone..... the Queen Anne which at the time only needed box gutters, which, yes is very expensive, but my dear friend had kept the house up otherwise quite nicely Frank proceeded to remove everything that he could get money for and sell it I suppose, the metal roof, windows, architectural bric a brac, etc., I am ABSOLUTELY THRILLED, that Comfy Cow has bought Silvia's home (for 22years) and are restoring it...being a strong supporter of the 'community' she I am sure is smiling down some where out there in the universe...as a Buddhist I also recognize what some might say is irony is totally Karmic retribution! oh yeah!!! Long live Comfy Cow...can't wait to have my ice cream there soon!!!

My Grandma Sylvia (not by blood, but that's how she signed cards to me for many years [my mom's mom died when she was young and I never had a single grandparent throughout my whole life until Sylvia]) sold the house to Frank. I won't go into too many details about the sale, but it was not pleasant - and my mom was her realtor so I know all the dirt. If you look at the photos, the furnishings in the background that were damaged by fire belonged to Sylvia - she was denied repossession of them after vacating in spite of shallow promises. She had dreams of opening an antique store and I own ten tons of treasures given to me by her (a pair of enormous and ornate antique chairs that once belonged to the dean of the University of Chicago among them). She passed two summers ago, and as you can imagine, my mother and I really wish she was around to see this development. As the Buddhist she was, she would have chanted for him, but she would have loved The Comfy Cow for bringing light again to her former home. Sylvia was a saint, and everyone that knew her would agree. I've been a little quiet about this until now for fear of spreading gossip, but I'm speaking truth, and somewhat out of love for my grandma Sylvia.

Thank you for sharing Jackie. I'm sorry for your lose. I watched that house deteriorate everyday as I rode the bus to and from work. I'm very happy Comfy Cow is renovating the right property.

Thanks David! I t was a huge loss when Sylvia passed, but there's a little revival of her spirit every time I see news of her house. My mom and I are getting a huge kick out of it.

I just wish Genny's Diner was on 4th street, then Mayor Abramson could have given
Farris the $900,000 forgivable loan and this may have never happened