Plan to close Thorntons on Broadway leaves few options for gas in downtown Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of downtown Louisville's last remaining gas stations is closing, and it's a hot topic in the city and on social media.

Thorntons announced on Tuesday that it will close its convenience store at 1st and Broadway. A spokesperson did not say why the location is closing on Feb. 26.

The gas station is centrally located between downtown and Old Louisville, and it's just off the Jefferson Community and Technical College campus.

"I'm really surprised by that because a lot of students go there after school. We always be there," said Brianna Sarpe.

Students like Elise Cooper have found the employees very helpful.

"Sometimes they let me park my car over there. There super super nice they be watching it for me," she said.

Other customers have noticed the corner change over the years.

"Well, it's had kinda a spotted history here it's obviously a convenient place to get fast items and that kind of thing but its always been an issue with the homeless population," said Frank Repper.

Attorney J. Andrew White, who has a law firm just steps away from the Thorntons, said people loitering at or near the store has been a problem for a long time.

"I've had to replace windows. I've had to replace door locks. I've had stuff stolen. We can't keep a garbage can," he said

The location has seen a number of police runs in the past, including a deadly shooting involving a security guard and a suspected shoplifter in 2022.

"Nobody at City Hall seems to care about downtown business owners and their capital investments, and you're going to have to leave downtown to get a full tank of gas," White said.

Filling up her tank was on the mind of Terra Leavell, too. "It was in my mind to stop and get gas, and I got all the way downtown and I thought I've got to get gas and the only place was First and Broadway at that Thorntons. I was leery. I didn't want to go there because of how things have been in the past, but it was literally my only place to go."

The closure of Thorntons leaves only one gas station in Louisville's Central Business District, which is Bader's at First and Liberty Streets.

Leavell who has worked in West Louisville and owns a business in the West End has an idea for Thorntons, if its looking for a new location.

"I hate to see Thornton's leave First and Broadway, but maybe if they are closing that location, they will consider putting a Thorntons in West Louisville.”

It's unclear at this time whether there are any future plans in the works for the property.

WDRB asked the mayor's office if it had any comment on the closure, and Deputy Mayor Pat Mulloy issued this statement.

"The closure of Thorntons at First and Broadway is an opportunity for new development and future growth. First and foremost, we hope this, along with the Broadway All The Way project, will increase safety around the intersection. We are optimistic the property will help create a true gateway into downtown and complement the significant and exciting investments we are seeing in the heart of our city, including Jefferson Technical and Community College’s $90 million revitalization project and the University of Louisville’s $280 million Health Sciences Simulation Center and Collaboration Hub in the LOUMED District."

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