The 25-year run of Miguel and Maggie de la Torre will end April 11, when they will turn over the keys to their eponymous Spanish restaurant (and adjoining tapas bar, La Bodega) to the owners Chad and Lauren Coulter.
The couple now operate two Uptown Art franchises, on Bardstown Rd. and in downtown New Albany. There, customers take art lessons while they sip wine. Chad Coulter said the success of both businesses opened their eyes to an underserved niche.
“Other than Commonwealth Tap, there’s no place that really focuses just on great wine,” Coulter said in a recent Insider Louisville posting. “Louvino will combine two things we know Louisville people love: to eat good food and drink wine.”
Louvino, which they hope to open by June, will be a wine-by-the-glass and small plates restaurant in June. Tavis Rockwell, currently executive chef at Equus, will craft the menu.
The prospect of needed upgrades to their building, their longevity in a demanding business, and a wide-spread family (Maggie’s sons are in California and England, with their families) encouraged the de la Torres to retire while they can still enjoy themselves.
Maggie de la Torre told Insider Louisville, “It’s time for us to travel and go see the kids, the grandbaby and, believe it or not, enjoy Louisville. We’ve not really gotten to do that much working in this business all this time.”
