Residents near 2 Bardstown Road bars praise Louisville's efforts to restrict liquor licenses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After two shooting deaths in less than a year at or near night spots on Bardstown Road, Louisville authorities are cracking down.

Louisville's Alcoholic Beverage Control posted notices at two Bardstown Road bars Tuesday in an effort to restrict their extended liquor licenses to stop them from selling alcohol after midnight.

The Nuisance and Abatement signs were posted Tuesday night at both bars, and ABC officials have confirmed Afrokanza and Café 360 were referred to code enforcement.

Nearby residents said late-night partying at those bars in particular has led to fearful neighbors after the violent incidents.

"I would not go out after dark anymore," said Lenore Slawsky, who's lived in the area for 20 years. "I would not walk my dogs after dark."

Slawsky has called the area home for 20 years and said she loves the walkability and sense of community. But now, the violence is creeping into her backyard.

"It does scare me how close this (violence) is to home," Slawsky said, adding that the crimes are "stemming from Afrokanza and Cafe 360."

A shooting behind one of the bars at 3 a.m. last July killed one person and left two others wounded.

"The neighbors call it murder alley and won't walk through there," Slawsky said.

Another person was shot and killed — also around 3 a.m. — at Cafe 360 in March of this year.

"The loss of life is just heartbreaking for everyone," Slawsky said.

In August 2023, hundreds of neighbors fed up with the violence packed into a local church to voice their concerns. That's when city officials announced ABC and Louisville Metro Police would be ramping up patrols in the area.

"We want to live in a neighborhood where everyone feels safe, and that's clearly not the case right now," Metro Councilman Ben Reno-Weber said at that meeting.

A source with Louisville Metro government said undercover ABC officers have been investigating both bars for months. Their investigation found the bars did not have adequate security and did not stop customers from bring guns inside.

The source also revealed undercover agents found the bars have been serving alcohol later than their liquor license allows. Those violations led to the ABC posting the Nuisance and Abatement notices at both bars. Officials said Code Enforcement will now ensure the bars are following the rules.

The owners of the bars will eventually have a chance to state their case at a hearing, but there is no timeline on that yet.

We're told the city plans to push to revoke the 2 a.m. license at both bars. That would mean they can't serve alcohol past midnight.

It's welcome news for Reno-Weber, who has been working to address this problem.

"We have rules and laws in this community for a reason," he said. "And we have to enforce them."

Slawsky is also pleased.

"I am so happy something is happening about this finally," she said.

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