Access Louisville

A couple of interesting businesses hit the market recently, which we talk about on this week's Access Louisville podcast. The first is Colonial Gardens, a South Louisville landmark that's home to four restaurants: Hokkaido Ramen & Sushi, Costa Del Sol, Craft House Pizza and The B.A. Colonial. It was redeveloped by Louisville-based Underhill Associates starting in 2017. LBF Senior Rep...

We talk about a couple of local projects that appear to be dead — or at least on life support — during this week's Access Louisville podcast. The first is the proposed Dream Hotel — a $100 million hotel project that was proposed on Main Street a few years ago. As LBF Senior Reporter Joel Stinnett reported recently, the effort is indefinitely on hold, according to a Louisville Metro Government...

Fourth Street Live needs something.  What that something is — well, that sounds like a fun idea for a podcast.  The Downtown Louisville entertainment district recently marked 20 years without any fanfare, as seven of its 20 locations are vacant. On this week's Access Louisville podcast, LBF Reporter Michael L. Jones tells us about the history of the entertainment district, how it came to be a...

Sometimes you have to power through the beginnings of things. That seemed to be the case for the Louisville Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), a newly-formed group of local business leaders who are taking the reins of economic development under Mayor Craig Greenberg.  The group got started this week under buggy circumstances , as Reporter Michael L. Jones explains on the Access Louisville podca...

We talk about Louisville's hotel needs on this week's Access Louisville podcast — specifically in light of a proposed new 27-story hotel tower in Downtown Louisville. Louisville Business First was first to report New York City-based commercial real estate developer Zyyo’s plans to construct the $175 million tower, which would sit at 140, 138 and 136 West Market Street. The site is across...

Is Louisville overdue for a different approach to economic development? We chat about that on this week's episode of the Access Louisville podcast. Specifically, we discuss Mayor Craig Greenberg's recently unveiled plan for a public-private-partnership aimed at economic development , which takes the form of a new nonprofit group that is to include many business and nonprofit leaders at t...

In the last few decades, plenty of Louisvillians have made their way through the ranks of Young Professionals Association of Louisville.  But have you ever wondered how that organization got its start?  As YPAL approaches its 25th anniversary, we sit down with its founders Cynthia Knapek, president of the Leadership Louisville Center; and Christy Ames, general counsel and EVP at Republic Bank &amp...

Louisville became the first city in Kentucky to pass a Fairness Ordinance protecting members of the LGBTQ community 25 years ago. To mark that important milestone and to discuss 2024 victories at the Kentucky Statehouse, the Access Louisville podcast sat down with Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, for an interview as the organization also celebrates Pride Month.  Hartman...

Louisville Business First set out to put some of the city's development issues under the microscope in a recent special feature we call Opportunity Louisville. And we talk about those issues and some of our coverage on this week's Access Louisville podcast. Reporters Michael L. Jones and Piper Hansen, who have led our coverage on these issues,  are on the show to talk about what they&apo...

Louisville's restaurant scene always gives us plenty to talk about. And it leads this week's Access Louisville podcast. We chat about the new executive chef at the Brown Hotel, who comes to Louisville via a similar position at the Trump Hotel in Chicago .  After that, LBF restaurant Reporter Michael L. Jones tells us about a new ramen restaurant in the Highlands, Kiwami Ramen , which ope...

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode. Apple Podcasts | Spotify This week we’ll start things off by looking back on the week that was at Valhalla Golf Club for the 106th PGA Championship . We had a team of reporters and photographers out there (including yours truly) on the course for every day of the to...

Dan Maloney, director of the Louisville Zoo,   joins us on the Access Louisville podcast this week. During the show, LBF Editor-in-Chief Shea Van Hoy interviews Maloney about a number of different goings on at the facility, including its accreditation process.  The two also talk about plans what is current the elephant exhibit in the Zoo. The elephants are being retired to a sanctuary. https://lou...

We lead this week's Access Louisville podcast with a conversation about West Coast hamburger chain Jack in the Box and its journey from San Diego to the Midwest. Louisville Business First Senior Reporter Joel Stinnett is on the show to talk about where the chain is heading next. He recently spoke to Franchisee Shane Paul about the company's plans to open in Westport Plaza in real estate...

Kentucky Kingdom's Sarah Worrell joins us on the Access Louisville podcast this week to talk about what's next for the park. The biggest change is several months out, but exciting nonetheless: 'Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom.’ The idea, she explains is a family-friendly wonderland that will even include a snowmaker and snow-tubing. It's part of an $8 million investment and comes...

Will the world ever embrace Kentucky bourbon the way it embraces Scotch whiskey? We chat about that a bit on this week's Access Louisville podcast. Bourbon Reporter Stephen P. Schmidt is on the show with news that Buffalo Trace is opening an attraction in London , England. Buffalo Trace Distillery London, a 2,000-square foot facility will be located at 32-33 Long Acre in Covent Garden in the...

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode. Apple Podcasts | Spotify We've got a three-course meal on this week's edition of the Access Louisville podcast.  First off, we talk with Special Sections and Research Editor Allison Stines about what stood out to her the most about our most recent Business...

Doug Owen, senior vice president, principal broker Kentucky, for JLL joins the Access Louisville podcast this week to talk about the state of Downtown. It's a mix of both good news and bad news Owen says. There have been some wins for Downtown Louisville including a move by accounting firm Forvis into the top floor of the PNC tower earlier this year . And news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engi...

We've got a roundup of recent restaurant news on this week's Access Louisville podcast. First off, we talk to Reporter Michael L. Jones about how he got the story of Anoosh Bistro in East Louisville selling to a new owner. Jones said it started with him seeing a photo online of Anoosh Shariat and Chef David Danielson posing together. Turns out that Anoosh had sold the restaurant to Danie...

We've got a special Access Louisville Podcast this week — and it's special for a couple of reasons. First, two guests join us: Jerry Abramson, former mayor of Louisville and executive-in-residence at Spalding University; and Christina Lee Brown, philanthropist and namesake of the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute. Secondly, this week's show is special because it was recorded in...

Garth Williams, general manager of Derby City Gaming Downtown, joins us on the Access Louisville podcast this week. Williams tells us about getting the venue open last December , what he looks for in the hospitality industry and preparing for Louisville's busier seasons in tourism. After that we chat with Reporter Joel Stinnett about the prospect for converting former office buildings into re...

The Access Louisville podcast takes a surprisingly sporty turn this week. We've got an interview with Bev Yanez, head coach of Racing Louisville FC. Yanez, who's in her first year leading the team, tells us about her career in soccer and how she found her way to Louisville. We also talk about what it's like to be a working mom of two small children who is also working in a high-prof...

We've got a classic roundup of local restaurant news on the Access Louisville podcast this week.  First up, we chat about LuCretia's Kitchen, a new soul food spot coming to Old Louisville . It will open at 617 W. Oak St., near the intersection of Oak and Seventh streets, on Friday, March 15. The menu will include fried chicken, meatloaf, smothered pork chops, ribs, rib tips and brisket a...

This week's Access Louisville podcast has a bit of everything. We talk about Shaquille O'Neal's departure from the board of Papa John's International Inc. as well as Mitch McConnell's plans to step down as Senate Republican Leader . After that we get into some real estate news: A piece of property in the Highlands between Baxter Avenue and Bardstown Road, that was for a lo...

Plenty of people know Michael L. Jones as Louisville Business First's economic development and restaurants reporter. But he's also a music guru, local history buff and author of three books. On the Access Louisville podcast this week, we talk with Jones (a regular on the show) about his latest book  "Soulful Sounds of Derby Town," which just launched.  Jones and his collaborato...

How do you know when you've made it in Louisville? Well, you get on Louisville Business First's Power 50 list, of course. The Power 50 is  LBF's annual special section highlighting 50 of the most influential people in Greater Louisville’s business and related communities. We talk about who's on the Power 50 and how they were picked on this week's Access Louisville podcast....