Galt House hiring some employees displaced by nightclub closings

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- They lost their jobs in an instant when two legendary Louisville night clubs went out of business, without warning.

They say the end marks the beginning of something new. The words couldn't be more true for Joseph Cobb and the rest of the former workers from Phoenix Hill Tavern and Jim Porter's Good Time Emporium.

"I got the call from a co-worker: we no longer have a job," said Jimmie Reed.

"Surprised, very surprised," said Maurice Melton. "Especially for Phoenix Hill."

When the Legendary Louisville nightclubs suddenly shut down this week, more than 100 people lost their jobs, including bartenders, servers, security and cleaning crews.

But for Cobb and his co-workers, new opportunities linger just around the corner -- literally. Picking up their last check, they found the Galt House hotel, hosting a job fair in Phoenix Hill's parking lot.

"Will you hire all of them?" WDRB's Gilbert Corsey asked.

"We've been trying to hire on-the-spots," said Yvonne Bates, the Galt House H.R. manager. "We're doing drug screens, we brought our printer, we're doing background checks, so we're trying to accommodate these people as much as possible."

The Galt House was offering jobs for the hotel, Rivue Restaurant and Down One Bourbon Bar. For Cobb and others, it's a bit of relief.

"Move onto better things," said Cobb.

"I got kids to support, live on my own, so at the end of the day, I need a second job just to live," Melton said.

The owner sold the land at Jim Porters to the city for $5 million for a future MSD project and says he's contracting with a developer for the Phoenix Hill site.

It's a bittersweet ending for a combined 65 years of business, but with workers finding jobs, it's also a chance to end on a high note.

"I ain't mad," Reed said. "Man's retiring. Hey, there comes a time when you got to let it go."

The employees also received a bonus check today. The amount varied by position and years of service.