As the Oasis front man Liam Gallagher is known to say, it has been “biblical” for local businesses thus far in 2025.
There have been interruptions in January owing to snow and ice, multiple flooding events including the current all-timer, a subsequent first-ever-weather-related cancelation of Thunder Over Louisville, disruptive Doge blitzkriegs and gutting tariffs, and for certain establishments on or near River Road, the helpful knowledge that once flood damage is mitigated, they’ll have two years of traffic diversions stemming from water company infrastructure projects yet to endure. We’re probably due for a plague of locusts this summer.
As of this morning, F & D is still receiving (presumably pre-staged) information releases detailing food and drink specials for Thunder. I’ve thrown them on the fire, given that it was below freezing this morning.
Whether business or individual, it is no great insight to suggest that we’re hardwired for consistency and continuity. One is wise to make contingency plans based on unique circumstances, but implementing a half-dozen of them all at once to address threats both natural and man-made is asking a lot of independent small business owners; they’re masochists almost by definition, although not superhuman.
In a sense, nothing has changed; if we as a community want the benefits of a unique, vibrant and independent small business sector, as opposed to cookie-cutter monoliths, then we must resolve to support independent operators — and these recent instances of compounded pestilence harm them the most.
Indies make Louisville what it is, and differentiate our city from Des Moines and Billings. Speaking for myself, I try whenever possible to put my money where my values are, into local independent small businesses. They’ll be needing it as the build-back commences.
Here’s a link.
‘A rough year’: River Road restaurants in Louisville hit hard by 2025 flooding, by Amanda Hancock (Louisville Courier Journal)
“It’s been a rough year,” KingFish vice president Greg Wortham told The Courier Journal. “It’s kind of coming at you from all sides.”
Cover photo credit: Richard Rush.
