Jack's Lounge Jamming

Tried to get into Jack's Lounge last night....wow....totally packed in at 8:45 and I mean packed like sardines. We were there a month or so ago and had a great meal. I guess we'll return on a week night. I'm glad to see that business is good. In fact that whole block or so was rocking with Havana Rumba, Equus, Del Frisco's, and Lou Lou's. I thought there was a recession....well St. Matthews seems to be doing well.

We ended up at The Patron and enjoyed our meal. We just had a hankering for Jack's.

[Robin Garr]

St. Matthews seems to be doing well.

St. Matthews, Crescent Hill/Clifton and the Highlands all appear to be bucking the economic trend, if you judge by he appearance of crowds in the established, popular eateries. We tried out Cafe Lou Lou in the Highlands the other night and every table was full. We've seen evening crowds in Varanese, Porcini, BBC St. Matthews and quite a few more lately.

I don't have any immediate explanation for this, unless these urban neighborhoods somehow have a demographic that hasn't been as hard hit by the recession yet. Any theories out there?

St. Matthews seems to be doing well.

St. Matthews, Crescent Hill/Clifton and the Highlands all appear to be bucking the economic trend, if you judge by he appearance of crowds in the established, popular eateries. We tried out Cafe Lou Lou in the Highlands the other night and every table was full. We've seen evening crowds in Varanese, Porcini, BBC St. Matthews and quite a few more lately.

I don't have any immediate explanation for this, unless these urban neighborhoods somehow have a demographic that hasn't been as hard hit by the recession yet. Any theories out there?

"Young" people, extra disposable income, limited financial sense, and a hankering for dining out. I'm basing that conclusion solely on the crowd I saw in Cafe Lou Lou (St. Matthews) two weekends ago. The crowds were present, the alcohol was flowing, and no one seemed to be having a bad time (so the economy can't be that bad for any of them).

I mean that in a some-what joking manner, but Louisville is one of those cities were, especially with a college degree, you can make good money and live a good life w/o breaking the bank (although many many people try to and succeed in doing so). None of the professionally employed friends I have (late 20s, early 30s) have changed their spending habits at all. In fact, many are putting houses on the market and buying new, larger houses. I don't know enough about economics to draw any conclusions, but my anecdotal evidence shows a whole population that wants to think they are immune.

I was at my parents last night and my mom was saying how my dad's 401K had lost X percent. Being that my dad is getting up toward retirement age her point was "that percentage will never be made up." Us young folk just don't have those concerns. Or just don't care. Not that I'm yet in that group. I'm being professionalized, but am not yet a professional.

The same probably can be said for a certain aged "middle-class." While my mom and I did have that financial conversation, she also wanted my opinion on paint samples for different room renovations. Point being - I'm not seeing that many people buttoning down the hatches.

Louisville's economy certainly isn't all that dynamic. In other words, when national economic trends are up, Louisville is so so. When national trends are down...Louisville is so so. We are to some degree insulated from major swings in economic trends. Now if one of the really big employers in town goes down, ie. Ford, UPS, et al, then the ripple effect could be devastating. For the time being it's reassuring to see the business.

One point to my original post....you can't get a parking spot down around the old Sears building on Friday night for love or money.

Gina, a friend and I were there 7 to 9ish this past Friday evening. They were slammed from time we got there til we departed.

Crab cakes and calamari were excellent apps. Gina went for the the Ultra Comfortable Pot Roast, Shrimp for our friend while I explored their cheeseburger. I'd remembered that someone posted that Jack's burgers were made with trim from beef tenderloins. Thanks for that suggestion! Service by Ryan was friendly and very efficient.

It's been several months since our last visit to Jacks. As I recall it was pre-economy scare on a midsummer weekend night. It was more jammed last Friday. Not much of a numerical sample to draw conclusions from but I certainly can Hope it spreads to all of our eaterys.

As for many college students and the recession, its actually worked out in our favor. Many of us either don't have jobs or work for the university, and live off loans anyway. Plus, most of us don't have any major assets to speak of, and those of us who do have some money put away weren't planning on cashing in anytime soon anyway. With gas prices down, and a slight cost of living drop overall, things are slightly better for us than they were several months ago.

As for many college students and the recession, its actually worked out in our favor. Many of us either don't have jobs or work for the university, and live off loans anyway. Plus, most of us don't have any major assets to speak of, and those of us who do have some money put away weren't planning on cashing in anytime soon anyway. With gas prices down, and a slight cost of living drop overall, things are slightly better for us than they were several months ago.

All valid points and probably some truth to it, but in this particular case, I don't think I've seen too many college students hangin at Jack's. The crowd seems to be more college kids' parents if you will.

[Robin Garr]

[The crowd seems to be more college kids' parents if you will.

I've always thought of Jack's as one of the few great Baby Boomer hangouts. Not that whippersnappers aren't welcome ...

[The crowd seems to be more college kids' parents if you will.

I've always thought of Jack's as one of the few great Baby Boomer hangouts. Not that whippersnappers aren't welcome ...

Being a boomer...I'd essentially agree with that.

I can assure you it is a whippersnapper's delight too- really an astounding demographic from what I see. A testament, I think, to Deano and his ability to make everyone feel welcome and at home.
Of course, I'm a bit prejudiced.

Anyone know if Jack's or Eqqus has a happy hour?

Jack's has $4.50 well drinks and $2.50 domestic beers till 7PM.

I have a bachelorette party of 13 that is planning to go for cocktails at Jack's after dinner on a Saturday night in about a month. I hope we can get in!