Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.

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A Louisville private school made plans to demolish a neighboring apartment complex which it owns, but it received community pushback.

Louisville Collegiate School, one of the area’s largest private schools, submitted an application to demolish the complex, Yorktown Apartments, at 2354 Grinstead Drive. 

But no decisions have been made yet. The Cherokee Triangle Architectural Review committee tabled the discussion this week. 

The complex includes three buildings, each with 16 units. Collegiate bought the property in 2015 and intends to use it for a 56-vehicle parking lot. 

The situation plays into a larger discussion of a lack of affordable housing throughout Louisville, especially in the Highlands neighborhood.

We discuss this trend on the Access Louisville podcast.

Also this week, the University of Louisville named its next president. Kim Schatzel, who currently holds the president title at Towson University in Maryland, will step into the role in February.

Some were critical of UofL’s decision to hire a white person for the role, but others in the community noted their excitement to get to know her. We discuss this reaction, along with what could be a new chapter of stability for UofL. 

And in true Access Louisville fashion, we discuss bourbon: from master tasters to a Louisville location for Bardstown Bourbon Co.  

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It’s co-hosted by David A. Mann and Laurel Deppen. Our guests this week are Michael L. Jones and Stephen P. Schmidt.

It's available on popular podcast services including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, which are linked above. You can also listen to the player above.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher 

The day is finally here: Top Golf is open. 

After years of anticipation, the national golf concept is taking bay reservations now. But it was “softly” open last week, accepting walkups. Our reporter Eleanor Tolbert got to tour the facility before the crowds.

Tolbert explains that she has visited Top Golf locations in Nashville and Cincinnati, but Louisville’s differentiates itself. It seems larger, she told us, with three stories and encompassing 67,000 square feet, with 102 bays, three full-service bars, dining areas, private event space and more

But Louisville’s location has something else that sets it apart from the others. It’s one of just two Top Golf locations to feature a different menu from the others, along with Las Vegas. Our unique menu? Bourbon, of course.

The bourbon bar includes nine different bourbon brands and specialty cocktails.

Beyond Top Golf’s bourbon offerings, we also discuss new places to try bourbon across the city, including a new spot from Heaven Hill in the Yum Center and Bardstown Bourbon Co. opening a new spot on Main Street this summer.

Forecastle is “taking a break” in 2023, so what will it look like when it comes back?

The Forecastle Festival, one of Louisville’s crown jewels, has been a staple of the city for 20 years. Organizers cancelled the festival last week, saying “there are some things that we want to work on and improve for the future, so we’re going to take some time to strategize and determine the best path forward for the festival."

We brainstorm what a future of the festival might look like. Will it go back to its indie rock roots or lean into the EDM/Gen Z crowd? 

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It’s co-hosted by David A. Mann and Laurel Deppen. 

It's available on popular podcast services including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, which are linked above. You can also listen to the player above.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

Louisville has elected a new mayor — the first in 12 years. Craig Greenberg won the Louisville mayor race earlier this week, defeating republican Bill Dieruf.

The race was closer than some expected, with Greenberg receiving about 52% of the vote, and Dieruf 46%. But Reporter Michael L. Jones reminded us that Louisville hasn’t had a republican mayor since 1969. 

We discuss campaign donations to both Greenberg and Dieruf by familiar names in the business community and speculate on what opportunities Greenberg will seize as he steps into the city’s top spot.

Also on the show, we talk about news that’s been brewing in the Louisville brewery and cocktail scene.

TEN20, a Louisville brewery which has been on a recent expansion kick, announced its fourth taproom. This summer, TEN20 will open in the Bolt + Tie, a $22 million mixed use development across the river in Clarksville, Indiana. The brewery also has locations in Butchertown, Anchorage and the Highlands.

The TEN20 taproom will mark Clarksville’s first brewery. We discuss how rare this is – noting that Kentucky and Indiana breweries typically haven’t crossed the river and stayed. Louisville brewery Monnik previously had a taproom and brewery in New Albany, but it closed earlier this year.

Beyond brewing, we also discuss Liquor Lab, the second location of a national chain with big expansion goals. Liquor Lab is a “make your own cocktail” experience which teaches patrons how to make bar-ready cocktails at home.

Reporter Eleanor Tolbert tried her hand at a class and shares her experience with us. You can read about it here, too.

We talk about all this and more on this week’s episode of Access Louisville. 

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It’s co-hosted by David A. Mann and Laurel Deppen.

Our guests this week are Tolbert and Jones. It's available on popular podcast services including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, which are linked above. 

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher 

A Kentucky spirits giant is considering a $500 million investment in Kentucky. 

Sazerac Company Inc. was preliminarily approved for a 15-year incentive agreement in Laurel County in London, Kentucky. 

According to a report released by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA), Sazerac is considering the large project “to meet growing demand.” 

The details of the project are still unclear as it was just preliminarily approved, Stephen P. Schmidt tells us on the Access Louisville podcast.

On this week’s podcast, we introduce you Schmidt, our new reporter. He covers bourbon (timely for this week) along with technology, innovation and finance.

It was a big week for bourbon. We also talk about a “secretive” whiskey company which bought land in Shelby County for $5.5 million. Assistant Managing Editor Haley Cawthon explains to us why the brand is such a mystery.

Beyond Bourbon, we also discuss what has been the talk of the town: UofL basketball received its punishment following an NCAA investigation that stretched 5 years and probably cost the university $50 million, Athletic Director Josh Heird estimated.

We talk about all of this and more this week on Access Louisville.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It’s co-hosted by David A. Mann and Laurel Deppen.

Our guests this week are Cawthon and Schmidt. It's available on popular podcast services including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, which are linked above. You can also listen in the player above.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. Follow us on popular podcast services to never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

This week, several entities with Louisville ties were sold, including one of the city’s biggest hotels.

AC Louisville, which houses Italian eatery Bar Vetti, is located in the heart of NuLu and sold for $51 million. Nothing will change on the consumer end, but the local group divested its ownership. 

We also talk about recent bank mergers and acquisition activity, including the acquisition of Limestone Bancorp and Republic Bank’s purchase of a Cincinnati-based bank.

But in true Access Louisville fashion, we catch up on the news of the city’s food scene, including an official opening date for Jerry Green and Friends, a new club, and a fun bar/plant shop concept.

We also discuss a recent podcast poll regarding which side of the Big 4 Bridge is better. Who won? Turns out, it’s “popping” in Jeffersonville.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It’s hosted by David A. Mann and Laurel Deppen. Our guests this week are Cawthon and restaurant reporter Michael L. Jones.

A new report measured the quickness and accuracy of fast-food restaurant drive-thrus. Taco Bell, which is owned by Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) took the top spot for speed, but the one in last place may surprise you.

Chick-fil-A took the last spot for speed, primarily because the line is already long before the store opens, Haley Cawthon told us during the Access Louisville podcast.

You can read Haley’s full story here.

We discuss a food truck turned brick and mortar restaurant opening in Norton Commons, and a new seafood restaurant in New Albany.

We also learn about a dream job: Old Forester’s Master Taster. The whiskey company named Melissa Rift brand ambassador and master taster this week.

We talk about all this and more on Access Louisville.

A new report measured the quickness and accuracy of fast-food restaurant drive-thrus. Taco Bell, which is owned by Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) took the top spot for speed, but the one in last place may surprise you.

Chick-fil-A took the last spot for speed, primarily because the line is already long before the store opens, Haley Cawthon told us during the Access Louisville podcast.

You can read Haley’s full story here.

We discuss a food truck turned brick and mortar restaurant opening in Norton Commons, and a new seafood restaurant in New Albany.

We also learn about a dream job: Old Forester’s Master Taster. The whiskey company named Melissa Rift brand ambassador and master taster this week.

We talk about all this and more on Access Louisville.

Louisville's Waterfront Park is a gem along the Ohio River.
But is the foot of the Big Four Bridge in Louisville as good as its counterpart in Jeffersonville? We discuss on this week's Access Louisville podcast — specifically on the news that a new "eatertainment" facility (a new pickleball bar) is planned at the waterfront.
As to the answer of which is better — we suppose it depends on what you're looking for. Jeffersonville has restaurants, shops and bars while Louisville has quiet green space and manicured landscapes. Both have their perks.
Later in the show we discuss the upcoming Louisville Beer Week as well as favorite Louisville breweries. And we talk about the reopening of Down One Bourbon bar on Main Street.
Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on popular podcast services.

We go through the latest  restaurant news on this week's Access Louisville podcast. Some of the new places we chat about include Blue Bay Seafood on Poplar Level Road; and Barista Parlor, which is coming to downtown at 500 W. Jefferson.
We also chat about the opening of Topgolf, which is expected in November.
Later in the show, we discuss a disturbing report on sexual abuse Racing Louisville FC, including reaction from sponsors and fans.
And lastly we chat about the sale of the Courier Journal's building downtown. 

What city would you compare Louisville to?
We talked about that questions on this week's Access Louisville podcast. Reporter Ellie Tolbert recently attended a conference at which Louisville business and civic leaders were searching for inspiration in Jacksonville, Florida. That got us talking about how Jacksonville and Louisville share some similarities.
Later in the show, we discuss recent news that Ford Motor Co. is expanding its operations locally with a $700 million investment. The company showed off its new model F-Series Super Duty Truck during an event at Churchill Downs.
Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's hosted by David A. Mann and edited by Laurel Deppen. You can find it on popular podcast services such as Apple Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher.