Access Louisville

There's always something going on along Frankfort Avenue but American Printing House for the Blind likely has one of the biggest projects. The nonprofit marked the official groundbreaking for The Dot Experience, a new museum that will be part of a $55 million campus expansion this week. And so we welcomed APH President Craig Meador to join the Access Louisville podcast this week.On the show Meador tells us about what to expect from the museum and how it can demonstrate accessibility for companies looking to expand their workforces.As usual, we have a few topics on this week's show. We also discuss The Myriad, a new hotel coming to the Highlands (it's gonna have a pool!) as well as a new event space, Germantown Gables. After that we chat about Drew Brees' new restaurant that's coming to nearby Clarksville, Indiana and a bit of shuffling among local TV sports anchors.Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on most popular podcast service

The Kentucky Derby has long been the reigning champion of the first Saturday in May. But will that always be the case? We talk about that on this week's Access Louisville podcast.The discussion comes on the heels of this story about how the growing popularity of Formula One racing, particularly as Miami is hosting an F1 race on the same weekend as Derby. We also discuss how hotel occupancy compared between Louisville, Miami and Nashville (which were all hosting their own big events) on Derby weekend.There's also concern about the number of horses that died at Churchill Downs during the course of Derby week — something that would alarm any spectator. Further, we talk about how the proliferation of sports betting might impact how much money people spend betting on horses.Later in the show, we shift gears to chat about some restaurant news, including Country Boy Brewing's plan for a tap room in Louisville and the closure of an Old Louisville restaurant Hill Street Fish & Seafood. Finally we wr

We share a few memories of legendary University of Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum on this week's Access Louisville podcast.Crum, who coached at Louisville from 1971 to 2001, died this week at age 86. Reporter Michael L. Jones recalls his involvement in the community, including his presence at LEO, while host David A. Mann looks back at covering the last years of Crum's coaching tenure while working at the student run Louisville Cardinal newspaper back in 2001.Later in the show we talk about some recent restaurant news, including the opening of Gus's Friend Chicken and a new Chinese buffet on Gardiner Lane.Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on popular podcast services.

It's the time of year when the Louisville area hosts many visitors.With that we spend a bit of time talking about hotels and Airbnbs this week on the Access Louisville podcast.Reporter Eleanor Tolbert is on the show and tells us about a new $29 million hotel project that's going into a more than 100-year-old building in New Albany. That one is in development, while Louisville just added a new hotel — called Hotel Genevieve, of which we have photos. Tolbert also tells us about the surging price of Airbnbs with the upcoming Kentucky Derby weekend and passes on a few tips for those interested in renting out their homes for Derby weekend.Reporter Michael L. Jones also gives us the latest news from the restaurant beat including the upcoming closure of Angilo's Pizza in the South Louisville and the expansion of Parlour in Jeffersontown.Late in the show we get into Kentucky Derby predictions, including talk over whether last year's win by Rich Strike will have more bettors going for the long shot

Kentucky has something unique when it comes to the culture around bourbon. Not only is it a part of the state's identity, it also has a community around it that frequently gives back when Kentucky is in need.That's something Reporter Stephen P. Schmidt talks about on this week's Access Louisville podcast. Specifically, Schmidt discusses a bourbon auction that aims to raise money for the family of Josh Barrick who was among those killed during the mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville on April 10.  Barrick was a friend of the bourbon community, including the podcasters at Bourbon Pursuit.This isn't the first time we've seen a bourbon sale help raise money for a cause like this. A similar auction took place after Kentucky was hit hard by a massive tornado in 2021. We also talk about bourbon collecting in general and some of the finer points of that popular Kentucky hobby.Later in the show we shift to talk about a couple commercial real estate developments that have taken plac

The annual Kentucky Derby Festival kicks off this weekend with Thunder Over Louisville, where a tribute to victims of gun violence is planned.We talked about what we're looking forward to in the festival on this week's Access Louisville podcast. Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Matt Gibson joins the show to talk about what's new and where the event goes from here.Later in the program we also discuss some new restaurants around Louisville, including Jamaican Jerk Center, the new Goodbounce Pickleball Yard on River Road, a new beer spot — called Awry Brewing — and much more.Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. You can find it on popular podcast services, such as Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify and more.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherThis week on Access Louisville, we are grieving the loss of those who died at the Old National Bank shooting and considering the weight of the news on the community.On Monday morning, April 10, six people were killed at the Old National Bank at 333 E. Main St. The shooter was among the dead.Several others were injured and transported to UofL Hospital.The news was shocking and left many in the community at a loss for words. Businesses, community leaders and elected officials sent condolences, and other business leaders signed a letter calling for change.It’s hard to talk about anything else. This week, we discuss our reaction to the news, the community’s response and a vigil hosted for them.Coping with tragedy is difficult, especially when our city sees it often. The Humana Foundation is deploying a $1 million investment int

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Greg Galiette is ready for the Louisville Bats to play ball.Galiette is entering his second baseball season as the president of the Louisville Bats, the minor league baseball team in Louisville. He became president in December 2021, but he has been with the team since 1984, when the Bats played as the Louisville Redbirds.On the same day as the Bats’ home opener this week, Business First Editor Shea Van Hoy spoke with Galiette about the new season.“Every time you start a new season there’s always a lot of optimism, not only for us but for every team,” Galiette said. “…We’re keeping our fingers crossed and we think we have a decent team this year.”Galiette and Van Hoy chatted about new additions to Slugger Field and more.We discuss all this and more on the Access Louisville podcast.It’s not always baseball season, but some i

We have a rundown of all the latest restaurant news on this week's Access Louisville podcast.Topping the discussion is information on Nic and Norman's, a restaurant coming to Whiskey Alley (aka Washington Street, behind Whiskey Row. We also chat about Bandido Taqueria's new location and a new area location for Drake's.LBF Reporter Michael Jones and Assistant Managing Editor, Digital Haley Cawthon fill us in on all the details. Later in the show we talk about the start of soccer season for both Racing Louisville FC and Lou City FC. Racing has a new general manager, who was appointed in the wake of last year's damning report on abuse in the National Women's Soccer League.After that we talk about the summer concert series Waterfront Wednesday and memories from a few bands on the bill. Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's hosted this week by Laurel Deppen and David A. Mann.You can find it on popular podcast services, including Apple Podcasts

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherGreg Fante wants to make you notice the Louisville Sports Commission.Fante, who officially stepped into the president and CEO role at the Commission last month, is focused on increasing the name recognition for his organization. He compared what he wants to do for sports what Fund for the Arts did for the arts, he said in an interview on the Access Louisville Podcast.The Sports Commission has been busy prepping for the South Regional of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament (the Sweet Sixteen Tournament), hosted in Louisville this year.Fante explains how Louisville won the tournament, and some of his favorite sporting events to watch.We also discuss a shiny new rendering unveiled for a $51 million distillery project. The project from Blue Run Spirits was designed by a key architect behind other projects including

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherThough the Silicon Valley Bank failure happened on the other coast, the ripple effects were felt by Louisville startups, attorneys and bank leaders.A startup founder told KYInno that he was rushing to pull funds from the bank, faced with the fear of the question: How will their employees be paid. Haley Cawthon spoke to the founder, who asked to be anonymous given the fluidity of the situation, and shares what she learned with us.Beyond startups, an attorney at large Louisville law firm Frost Brown Todd spent his weekend helping clients both locally and across the country who had funds in SVB. Ellie Tolbert spoke with him and some leaders in Louisville’s banking scene to get their reaction.The SVB bank collapse was big news everywhere, but in true Access Louisville fashion, we sneak in some talk of restaurants and tourism.Th

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher A multi-use development by a prominent developer made headlines multiple times this week, but what is it missing?Nulu Marketplace, which is owned by developer Mo Deljoo, is home to a brewery, restaurants, retail establishments and even office space. Recently one of its retailers, Buff City Soap, closed its location, leaving the opportunity for something new.We speculate on what the complex could use on the Access Louisville Podcast: perhaps another restaurant, new retail or a bodega.West Sixth Nulu, the complex’s anchor tenant, recently announced it was adding food to its menu offerings. It will start by focusing on shareable items, including wings and tacos.Cherry Pickin’, a cold press juice bar, will open in Nulu Marketplace at the end of April. The concept’s owners said juice bars were something missing in the area, and

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherWe discuss all this and more on Access Louisville.Owners of the Claudia Sanders Dinner House have edited the listing with changes that could help attract a buyer.The Shelbyville restaurant was established by KFC founder Col. Harland Sanders for his wife Claudia. It went on the market in June for $9 million and has now been lowered to $4.9 million.The price decreased because the original listing included Sanders family memorabilia and the trademark and likeness of Claudia Sanders. The owners will sell that separately. Now the listing includes just the physical real estate and the restaurant business.Reporter Eleanor Tolbert explains that this could help them attract a new buyer.In other KFC news, we also discuss a beloved menu item returning to the Louisville-based chicken chain for a limited time. The Double Down, famous fo

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherLouisville is a foodie town — and several new restaurants will bring different cuisines to the area.Harvey’s Cheese, a shop formerly in Logan Street Market, has now changed course to offer food beyond cheese: Australian. Now just named Harvey’s, the restaurant will reopen in March at 2011 Frankfort Ave. in the former ramen restaurant Mirin, which closed in December 2019. Reporter Michael L. Jones tells us that the owner is from Sydney, Australia, and opening such a restaurant has been his longtime dream.In other restaurant news, a Louisville popup is opening its first brick-and-mortar location. Renshoku Ramen owners plan to open a restaurant in Old Louisville this spring. It will focus on dinner and then expand to include lunch grab-and-go options.Renshoku started as a popup in 2019 and served locations including the Merryw

The Access Louisville podcast is a two-parter this week. First, we focus on bourbon. Louisville Business First Bourbon Reporter Stephen P. Schmidt has been on the road recently visiting some local distilleries, including a trip to Buffalo Trace in Frankfort. This is one of Kentucky's largest distilleries and behind some hugely popular brands like Pappy Van Winkle and Eagle Rare. Schmidt got a chance to take it's all new "hard hat tour," which is partially good marketing, partially a behind-the-scenes look at how one of Kentucky's signature products are made. He also tells us about his recent trip to Heaven Hill's Louisville Distillery and a new project coming to Whiskey Row, called Buzzard's Roost.After that, we switch gears and chat about sustainability — specifically a Kentucky-based program called Canopy. Louisville-based Canopy offers certifications to for-profit companies based on the “good” the company does, including the work they do for their people, community and en

We chat about a couple of Louisville's local celebrities on this week's Access Louisville podcast.First, Reporter Michael Jones tells us about a premier event he recently attended centering around Chef Darnell Ferguson. Ferguson hosted a red-carpet event at the Muhammad Ali Center last Sunday to share a preview of his new show, "Superchef Grudge Match," a one-hour program that premiered on the Food Network and streaming on Discovery+ on Feb. 7.It's a great evolution for Ferguson, who's dreamed of having his own show, Jones said. But of course we will miss his local restaurants Superchefs (which closed last year) and Tha Drippin' Crab (which closed in January.)Later in the show, we talk about another well-known Louisville celebrity: John Schnatter, including his reaction to news that the company he founded, Papa Johns International Inc., is putting its Louisville headquarters for sale. Reporter Ellie Tolbert gives us the details on that story. The company is keeping a workfor

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherBed, Bath and Beyond is closing three of its Kentucky locations after raising a red flag that bankruptcy could be imminent.The retailer has two locations in Louisville, one at the Paddock Shops at 4350 Summit Plaza Drive, and another at 99 Breckenridge Lane. The Paddock location will close, along with two others in Elizabethtown and Bowling Green.The New Jersey-based company announced days earlier that it was considering a bankruptcy filing. It is expected to close more than 80 stores nationwide.The company hasn’t said what has led to some of these developments, but we speculate on the Access Louisville Podcast that a rise in ecommerce could be decreasing a need for its services.GameStop filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN), announcing it was closing its distribution facility in Bullitt County. The f

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherCleo Battle is ready to shift from recovery mode to growth mode.Battle is the president and CEO of Louisville Tourism. After three years of uncertainty for the tourism industry, he is leading the organization as it plans to attract a global audience.Shea Van Hoy, editor of Louisville Business First, sat down with Battle to discuss what he was looking forward to and trends in the tourism industry. This conversation is the first in a series of executive interviews on the Access Louisville Podcast.Something that keeps Louisville from attracting different kinds of meetings or conventions is its hotel capacity, one that is lower than peer cities, Battle explained. There are some hotels under construction, but currently Louisville is under-hoteled.Beyond this construction, there’s another change coming to the hotel industry. Repo

We're always sorta talking about restaurants on the Access Louisville podcast. This week we lean into it with a classic Access Louisville restaurant roundup.On the show we talk about a new location for Jaggers, a fast food concept from Texas Roadhouse, opening soon. We also chat about Goodbounce pickle ball bar, the opening of Sweet & Juicy Seafood, the new Capital Grille coming to Oxmoor Center and much more.Later in the show we chat about migration patterns for businesses. Specifically we talk about data from the U.S. Postal Service which shows how some ZIP codes, such as downtown Louisville's 40202, have lost businesses, while others, including 40245 in far East Louisville, have gained businesses.Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's hosted by David A. Mann this time. Co-host Laurel Deppen will be back next week. This week's guests are Reporters Michael L. Jones and Ellie Tolbert as well as Haley Cawthon, LBF's assistant managing editor, dig

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.   Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | StitcherThe startup scene in Louisville has always been tight knit and bustling, but some things have shifted.Business First identified 20 startups to watch in the new year. The companies spread across different sectors including health tech, insurance, ecommerce, real estate and more. They also are across the state, with companies based in Covington and Paducah.Haley Cawthon, assistant managing editor – digital, previously led KY Inno and had a front row seat to the startup community.“There’s always been this genuine interest in the startup ecosystem in Louisville,” Cawthon said.Since Cawthon started in 2019, she said something has remained the same: a shortage of venture capital in the area continues to be a challenge. But the local ecosystem has a lot of momentum and excitement, which came into play more in 2022. 2023 could pose