LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Walking around downtown Louisville on Thursday, a group of sorority sisters couldn't help but notice a slew of empty businesses and closed restaurants.
Bionca Noecker and her sorority sisters are spending a few days in town from the east coast. They've hit all the classic tourist spots like Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factor.
"It's a cute place," she said. "I like it."
But while Noecker is happy to visit, she said she's not sure she'd come back. She wishes downtown had a better night life scene and more retail spaces. Instead, she saw many vacant buildings.
"I did notice a lot of 'For Sale' or 'Space Available' signs in the windows and stuff," she said, standing outside the space held by Bluegrass Brewing Company until it closed last month.
Further down on West Main Street, Bristol Bar & Grille also closed its downtown location, a prime spot near Museum Row. Walking down that block Thursday, you could see at least six "For Lease" signs posted in windows.
One of downtown Louisville's longest-running craft cocktail bars, "Meta Bar," also shut its doors, the owner claiming the Chestnut Steet location is "no longer viable."
"We were walking and I feel like it would have been more active," Noecker said.
But city leaders said years of negative momentum is turning, with new businesses moving in amid a push to get more people living downtown. Rebecca Fleischaker, executive director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership, said the city is working hard to retain and attract new businesses.
"I do believe that vacancy is an opportunity for something new," Fleischaker said Thursday. "Let's re-envision what that space could be used for."
Lately, city leaders have begun moving money toward downtown housing. Data reveals 40% of downtown office towers are empty, and some of those spaces will be converted into apartments. Nearly 800 downtown residential units were built last year, and another 2,500 are under construction or have at least been announced.
Fleischaker said the goal is to attract more young adults — like Noecker.
"Residents put more 18- to 24-hour activity on the street, so there's always more going on just because there's more people," she said.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
