TRAX - In La Grange

All,

This short notice from the "C-J":


A new family restaurant - Trax Cafe - is opening at the corner of Main and Cedar streets in downtown La Grange, Discover Downtown La Grange. Trax Cafe will not be serving alcohol and will offer homemade soups, pizza, and sandwiches.

Does anyone know anything about this new establishment ? Andrea ?..John ?...Carla ?...Buehler ?...Anyone ?....Anyone ?

All,

This short notice from the "C-J":


A new family restaurant - Trax Cafe - is opening at the corner of Main and Cedar streets in downtown La Grange, Discover Downtown La Grange. Trax Cafe will not be serving alcohol and will offer homemade soups, pizza, and sandwiches.

Does anyone know anything about this new establishment ? Andrea ?..John ?...Carla ?...Buehler ?...Anyone ?....Anyone ?

I happened to spot it the other evening, while dining at Irish Rover Too...will definitely make a visit soon and report in

Not a clue... yet.

Pretty sure this in the spot that was Ray's Corner Restaurant; for those who know Main Street LaGrange. They have just opened and as I understand, do not plan to ever serve alcohol...the basis for the closure of Ray's.

Pretty sure this in the spot that was Ray's Corner Restaurant; for those who know Main Street LaGrange. They have just opened and as I understand, do not plan to ever serve alcohol...the basis for the closure of Ray's.

Neal,

I was wondering about the alcohol part myself...While it (may) be desirable to some elements of the population not to have alcohol served, I would speculate that any restaurant in this day and age might be "cutting off their nose to spite their face" by not selling products with such a high profit margin. Maybe it's simply too many hoops to jump through...Maybe there really IS a significant market for this type of establishment. Who knows. I certainly wish this new place the best of luck and living just outside of La Grange will certainly give it a try...alcohol or not.

Perhaps Steve the Sailor can weigh in on this one...

Steve -

The issue of serving alcohol in Oldham County is mainly unseen and uncommunicated to it's residents. Getting the license is not the problem. There are 2 items: First is the 5% gross sales tax that the County receives from the restaurant (also add 2% city sales tax for LaGrange to the state 6%). Second is that the only license one can have requires a minimum 70% food to 30% alcohol sales ratio (the problem that Ray's couldn't solve). The problem that places like Ray's have is that their menu prices are very low and then they promote alcohol sales and end up with a person spending $7.00 on food and having 3 drinks for $7.50 or more. As a resident you know that many of the restaurants serving alcohol in Oldham County fall into this catagory.

Having served Oldham County for almost 9 months, I can say that there is a significant portion of the County population that does not drink while dining, we rarely exceed 15% alcohol sales even with a nice, reasonably priced wine and beer list. I mean, all one has to do to see the demand for low cost dining is look at Cracker Barrel and Ponderosa on 53.

Neal hit on several points that are all correct. The other problem I personally ran into was the hours. You can't serve past midnight. Which is fine about 95% of the time, but in the summer time when people stay out later and you have the opportunity for some late night business, you have to turn it away. Same thing for Monday night football. Those games come on so late!

The ordinance was designed so that restaurants could serve, and that they wouldn't become bars. So in that respect it is doing its job. I just wish it was a little bit more relaxed.

We ran poker tournaments for about a year. When Ray's started doing it, someone started complaining. Next thing I know, I'm being told that I can't have poker tournaments anymore. Even though I had gotten permission from the county attorney to do so. He basically said that it was a mistake, and that was that. My Thursday night sales got cut in half during the summer and during the winter it was closer to 60% -- in the winter those poker players would come out even if it was cold and nasty. Mom and Dad weren't always as willing to pack up the kids and bring them out for a pie. Running a business is hard enough, but with the regulations, it makes it even tougher.

New Years Eve Parties... I never even tried it because you can't serve past midnight.

Trying to get a late night crowd of any kind is hard to do because everyone knows they have to stop at midnight.

I'd like to see it changed to 1am and sales of 50/50 -- but it is my understanding that Oldham County passed their ordinance based on a state law. The state law is the law that put the ratios in place. I haven't looked into it further, and thankfully it isn't as big of a concern for me now.

I started doing some more research before I sold the shop about doing a "nano" brewery -- but the paperwork I read said you couldn't get a brew on license unless you were in the a county that is wet. Oldham is considered moist. A step above dry, but not quite wet... so stopped looking into that idea.

Steve -

The issue of serving alcohol in Oldham County is mainly unseen and uncommunicated to it's residents. Getting the license is not the problem. There are 2 items: First is the 5% gross sales tax that the County receives from the restaurant (also add 2% city sales tax for LaGrange to the state 6%). Second is that the only license one can have requires a minimum 70% food to 30% alcohol sales ratio (the problem that Ray's couldn't solve). The problem that places like Ray's have is that their menu prices are very low and then they promote alcohol sales and end up with a person spending $7.00 on food and having 3 drinks for $7.50 or more. As a resident you know that many of the restaurants serving alcohol in Oldham County fall into this catagory.

Having served Oldham County for almost 9 months, I can say that there is a significant portion of the County population that does not drink while dining, we rarely exceed 15% alcohol sales even with a nice, reasonably priced wine and beer list. I mean, all one has to do to see the demand for low cost dining is look at Cracker Barrel and Ponderosa on 53.

Neal,

Before we moved to KY I had no idea what a "moist" county was...So this is all new territory for us. After reading your reply I'm beginning to understand just how complex and challenging the issue of serving alcohol can be. Combine all of this with the liabilities and it's a wonder more places don't go alcohol free. Thanks for the info.

All,

This short notice from the "C-J":


A new family restaurant - Trax Cafe - is opening at the corner of Main and Cedar streets in downtown La Grange, Discover Downtown La Grange. Trax Cafe will not be serving alcohol and will offer homemade soups, pizza, and sandwiches.

Does anyone know anything about this new establishment ? Andrea ?..John ?...Carla ?...Buehler ?...Anyone ?....Anyone ?

As promised, I finally made it over to Trax Cafe for lunch...they're at the corner of Main & Cedar, just east of central downtown LaGrange (from Louisville: I-71N to Exit 22; turn left and drive into downtown LaGrange; turn right onto Main St -- follow the RR tracks -- and Trax is about two blocks down on your right)...

Not a huge menu, but appears to offer a little something for everyone -- homemade soups, sandwiches, pizza, salads and limited seafood items on Fridays...they also feature a breakfast menu, which includes breakfast sandwiches, burritos, pancakes, as well as the "Trax Breakfast Pita Pizza"...

Prices appear fairly reasonable (I hope they last), with sandwiches running from $3.00-$6.00, soup $2.00/$4.00 (cup/bowl) and 6" personal pizzas starting at $2.75 + .50 cents/topping...breakfast items run from $2.00 (Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich) - $4.00 (Two biscuits w/gravy and Sausage).

I had their "French Dip" sandwich (w/pickle and chips)....the sandwich was very good -- a generous pile of shaved roast beef nested in a warm, open bun -- reminded me of the Italian Roast Beef sandwich at Come Back Inn -- but not quite as big....the beef was tender and flavorful, with just enough au jus on the side for dipping....my wife tucked into their Italian Sub and pronounced it very good....Trax offers a variety of beverages (non-alcoholic), but feature real draft root beer -- delicious!

Trax is open Mon-Fri from 0700-1500, with plenty of indoor (and outdoor) seating...they also offer WiFi connectivity...and ample parking in the rear....we'll be back -- I want to try their soups!