Awareness is key, so let’s begin by making the point that the Louisville Water Company is fully aware of the impact of the River Road residual line project on several local restaurants.
Louisville Water is like many in this community – we love supporting local restaurants. We know our construction project along River Road means visiting the restaurants along this highway takes some planning with a possible detour. It’s a balancing act to maintain the infrastructure that provides nearly a million people with safe drinking water and meeting the needs of the restaurants, businesses, homeowners, and commuters that rely on River Road.
We’re committed to maintaining access to these popular places – but recognize it’s not the norm. We’re working quickly and safely to move along River Road. We encourage locals to keep supporting our vibrant restaurant scene – it’s what makes Louisville so special.
Kelley Dearing Smith
Vice President, Communications and Marketing at Louisville Water
We’ve received a media release, the balance of which is reprinted here. The importance of awareness cannot be overstated, as no one doubts the necessity of pro-actively replacing 50-year-old pipes, so help your friends and neighbors know what to expect, to plan ahead, and to continue supporting these establishments.
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Local Restaurants Rally for Support Amid River Road Closures
Louisville, KY – A new public awareness campaign has launched to shed light on the ongoing River Road construction project and its significant impact on several local restaurants.
Despite the road closures, local favorites like River House, KingFish, River Road BBQ, Cunningham’s, Captains Quarters, The Pine Room, and Limestone Bay are still open and relying on the community’s support to survive during this challenging time.
“We believe it is crucial for the city to improve signage and directions during ongoing construction. It’s essential that visitors and residents alike are clearly informed that the local restaurants and businesses remain open and eager to serve their loyal patrons. Our friends on River Road, in particular, have already faced a challenging year with flooding and severe weather conditions, including ice and snowstorms. Now, more than ever, it is time for us as consumers to rally behind our local restaurants and businesses. They need our support to continue thriving, and we must show our commitment to keeping them alive in these times.” Christian Saylor, KRA Louisville Chapter President
KingFish, which will celebrate its 77th anniversary this Derby season, voiced the difficulties caused by the road closure. Greg Wortham Executive VP shared this:
“The road closure has created an unknown and inconvenient route for our guests. While some regulars know the area, many others are deterred due to unclear directions. The initial media coverage stating the road would be closed for two years has caused confusion. Some customers have even brought in newspaper articles stating the road closure would affect us, with no mention that we, and other local businesses, remain open and accessible.”
River Road BBQ echoed with similar concerns. The restaurant’s team explained that the Louisville Water Company project, which was introduced just before construction began, only added to the struggles, especially after they were forced to shut down for two weeks due to flooding. Owner Krissy Davis added:
“If we have one request at River Road BBQ, it is that people consider using us for catering and to stop by for family packs and meats by the pound for lunch or dinner. We really appreciate the support.”
Cunningham’s, Captains Quarters, The Pine Room, and Limestone Bay are all facing similar challenges, with reduced traffic due to the construction, making community support crucial for their survival.
Despite these setbacks, the restaurant owners remain hopeful and are committed to serving their loyal customers. They are urging locals to continue supporting these restaurants during the construction period, whether by dining in, ordering takeout, or utilizing catering services.
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Also, there’s a post about this topic at Louisville Independent Observer (LIO), a new independent media “not associated with that other former indie outlet.”
Louisville Restaurants Want Public To Know They Are Open Despite Road Construction, by Erica Rucker
Restaurants along River Road are asking for support. In the wake of a major road construction project along River Road, the restaurants have seen impacts on their business. Several restaurants: River House, Kingfish, River Road BBQ, Cunningham’s, Captain’s Quarters, The Pine Room, and Limestone Bay want the public to know they are still open for business.
You may know already that in January, Rucker was relieved of her duties at that other former indie outlet, hence her fledgling LIO project. She’s been working right here in Louisville for a good while, writing about numerous aspects of the local scene, so just as you’re supporting independent eateries, check out LIO and be a part of local independent media.
(Thanks to Caroline Knop at SimplyPR for the information in this post.)
