Fern Creek sees rapid growth as restaurants, retail move into SouthPointe Commons

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The rapid expansion of SouthPointe Commons along Bardstown Road in Fern Creek shows no signs of slowing down, with a local restaurant chain as the latest addition.

Bubba’s 33, a popular local chain, is nearing completion and plans to hire 200 employees ahead of its opening in April. It joins a growing list of businesses at the $80 million development near the Gene Snyder Freeway.

Rilee Basey, who has worked at Paint Nail Bar in the area for nearly two years, has watched the transformation.

"All these buildings were empty buildings — they weren't businesses yet," Basey said. "And now it's just everything everywhere."

In addition to Bubba’s 33, a new emergency room and urgent care facility is in its final stages of construction, while another shopping plaza is preparing to break ground. The long-awaited Hy-Vee grocery store, initially planned for 2020 but delayed, is now back on track, though a construction start date has not been announced.

With the influx of businesses has come increased traffic, creating mixed feelings among residents and workers.

"We've had people who haven't been over in years, and they come over here and they're like, 'When did all of this go up?'" Basey said. "So it has definitely happened quick."

District 22 Metro Council member Kevin Bratcher noted that much of the traffic comes from surrounding counties, with the Gene Snyder Freeway serving as the primary access point to Louisville.

"You have all this traffic coming up from Nelson, Bullitt, and Spencer counties," Thompson said. "The only way they can access Louisville is through that corridor."

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is re-evaluating traffic signal timing in hopes of alleviating congestion in the area.

Basey recalls that the first major development in the area was a Kohl’s store, followed by fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. Since then, the area has rapidly expanded.

"It's exciting to see all this growth that has happened over in this area," Basey said.

The majority of the businesses and accompanying traffic have developed within the last eight years, transforming the landscape of Fern Creek.

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