Azalea-New Restaurant?

I don't doubt the leasing %, but I watched a really good documentary about great businesses in America. Walgreens was one of the companies featured, and their philosophy of always buying the best locations regardless of price was the core of the manner in which they turned their business around when faced with the competition of Rite-Aid, etc.

I remember going to this restaurant when it was Bauers back in the late 60's and again in the early 90's. La Paloma was what they called it when I went for a dear friends birthday in the early 90's....and I celebrated one of the happiest days of my life there when it was Azalea's (July 3, 1997....the day i found out my mother was finally a candidate for a lung transplant...i still have the picture that was taken on the patio of me beaming with my friends)....what a shame this Louisville landmark is going to be bulldozed for capitalism.....PLEASE, SOMEBODY IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY BUY IT ALREADY!!! if they want to put a Walgreens on the property, fine....LEAVE THE BUILDING....just like what they did with the historic building in front of the COSTCO at Brownsboro Crossings...that building is now going to be Corbett's Fine Dining (Dean Corbett from Equus saved that one).....again, I plea....SOMEONE SAVE THIS LANDMARK!

eh, Ron,
I have friends that live in those hoity toity homes.

Pitino is not a friend... but he lives in the sub-division right next door!

He and his friends should be yelling and screaming about the construction to someone..... or maybe he is to busy.

I am just sick about another Walgreens going in there.

This is not funny anymore.... we need to make it stop.

Technocrat here. I won't see this case unless they need a variance, waiver or Conditional Use Permit. That said, if this isn't a Historic Preservation District (it isn't to my knowledge) I suspect that they can get a demo permit. Sad. Really, really sad.

I'm sure that there is a dollar amount to make the Walgreen's "go away". The owner's of the land of most every walgreen's in the country all say that they are the best tenant to have, AAA rated, and will sign up to a 50 year lease. If anyone wants to buy an existing walgreen's lease, I would be happy to help, they usually are about a 6% cap rate.

That being said, I hear that several restaurant people have tried, but not had any luck with even getting the price it would take to keep it a restaurant.

At the risk of being hunted down and being fitted for concrete shoes, I believe that land owners do have that right. Just write a big enough check, and you can buy most any piece of property.

If anyone wants to buy an existing walgreen's lease, I would be happy to help, they usually are about a 6% cap rate.

An amazing thing that even Walgreen is producing a 6% cap rate. What happened to the days of 9% triple net leases? Makes me want to stay in the stock market, but that's another discussion.

Is the building truly historical in any sense, or are we all just nostalgic because we've enjoyed the restaurants that have been there?

The building is historical (big, green sign in front,-black smith's shop) so I am guessing Walgreens would have to jump through some hoops before bulldozing. Not to mention the historical significance of those trees which must be 2 or 3 hundred yers old. While I have been dismayed at what has been happening to some of the other restaurant locations in the neighborhood (Dietrichs? Red Lounge?- both buildings now devoid of their original charm) surely Louisville won't let Bauer's go?!?!? This HAS to be nothing but rumor. If it isn't, I would have 7 drugstores within walking distance from my home! I have kind of given up on the drug companies taking over my government but please tell me that their retail outlets are not going to take over my neighborhood! Does anyone know if this property is in Crescent Hills or St. Matthews?

If demolition is the direction they take, then when they start boring holes for explosives on peoples property lines, the residents can all gather for a ' Group Sit-In ' .

Our house is on the national register of historic places and before we purchased it 3 years ago I had no idea how lax the rules are for the preservation of these buildings. I would have to go through the little handbook again, but I do remember that you can demolish the property if you are a private owner. Preservation neighborhoods are the strict ones...not individual houses on the register, at least that is my opinion after purchasing one and being more interested in trying to restore it to it's original splendor than the national register is. They seem more interested in making sure the trees in our yard aren't cut down ( I am a big fan of old trees myself but come on!!)

I just heard on WAVE 3 news last night that it is going to be made into a Walgreens. I am not sure if this is a done deal, but the troubleshooter was talking about the restaurant going out of business last night and leaving customers with no where to redeem gift certificates.

Sara, that idea won't work. Just look at the guy down in Lebanon Kentucky, he was doing a sit in out in his backyard to prevent blasting at a new Wal-Mart being built next to his home and a judge ordered him to go inside so the blasting could take place. We can even sit out in our yards to prevent progress so we're certainly not going to be able to stop at in other ways! This story was shown on WLKY last night and today at noon.

Mark,

I probably should have been more specific in my lackluster attempt at humor, but that's exactly the story I was referring too. That poor guy.

but I do remember that you can demolish the property if you are a private owner.

Is that true? I thought that was the deal with the owner of Ginny's and the house next door. He bought it to demolish and turn into a parking lot, but afterwards the neighborhood had it declared a landmark so he couldn't. Do I have my facts wrong?

actually that is what I am referring to...Ginny's house is in a preservation district. That is different than the house being listed in a national register of historic places. I have never lived in a preservation district but have friends that do (Clifton area) and they can't even paint their door without asking permission from a committee. Our house (like the Azaleas house) is on the register which basically means we are the only people we have to answer to. kinda weird...

found what I was talking about at http://www.nps.gov :


Private property owners can do anything they wish with their property, provided that no Federal license, permit, or funding is involved.
Owners have no obligation to open their properties to the public, to restore them, or even to maintain them, if they choose not to do so.

I have an email in for the Mayor and will check with the Crescent Hill City Council on Monday to see what can be done. I am not sure what city it is in though. I think if that is St. Matthews it might be better. I will also write to Walgreens this weekend. Surely the residents of Mockingbird Estates and Mockingbird Valley don't want a Walgreens replacing that building. At any rate, you all can flood the Mayor's office with email!