Louisville, KY (WDRB News) --It is Fourth Street Live's newest attraction -- even though it is not yet officially open, the Gordon Biersch Restaurant at the corner of Fourth and Liberty Streets was packed with patrons during lunchtime on Friday.
It is located at the site of the old Borders Book Store which closed more than a year ago.
Laurie Freitag was one of the many people eating outdoors. "We got an invitation to come in, we work just down the street, so we made a reservation, it is very good," she said.
Tom Dargen is the director of brewing operations. "Today I guess you would call it a trial run," he explained. "We invite guests in, they do not have to pay, it is a chance for us to work the kinks out."
The new Louisville restaurant is part of a 32-restaurant chain in 18 states, headquartered in Chattanooga. This is its first restaurant in Kentucky. The company has invested $4 million in the corner location.
The chain is known for its made from scratch American menu, plus it has its own brewery on location.
"We specialize in German styles," says Dargen.
The restaurant fills the hole left by the closing of Borders at a very visible downtown location so it expects to attract big crowds here.
The more than 100 employees will get another chance for a trial run on Saturday evening when a VIP party is planned.
The restaurant officially opens to the public on Monday for lunch.
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