LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The original Bristol Bar & Grille on Bardstown Road will close its doors after nearly 50 years in the Highlands.
The restaurant made the announcement Wednesday in a post on its Facebook page.
"As the Highlands has changed over the years, decreased foot traffic and the loss of the late-night dining culture that once defined this area have made it increasingly difficult to operate in this location," the post read.
The Highlands location opened in 1977 as the first of three Bristol Bar & Grille locations in Louisville.
"Since 1977, Highlands Bristol has been part of the heartbeat of this neighborhood — a place for late-night dining, celebrations, first dates, Sunday regulars, and countless memories," the post continued.
The closure comes about five years after the restaurant reopened following a renovation project that added new decor, flooring and seating to the restaurant, as well as some new menu items.
Bristol still has locations in east Louisville, on Hurstbourne Parkway, and on West Main Street in downtown Louisville. The restaurant's Jeffersonville location, inside the Sheraton Hotel on the Ohio River, closed in 2018.
"This transition reflects a thoughtful consolidation of our operations so we can focus on stability, strengthen the core of our business, and continue serving our guests and community responsibly," the restaurant's post continued. "While this location is closing, our priority remains honoring the history of the Bristol and supporting the team members who have brought this restaurant to life for five decades."
The restaurant's final day is March 15.
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