Since the last issue of Food & Dining hit the stands just a couple of weeks ago, there has already been news of restaurants opening, or proposed, or closed, or in some way undergoing change. To keep everyone apprised of what’s going on, before we can compile it all in the Fall issue, here are some of what we have learned in recent weeks.

  • Diamond Station has reopened at 2280 Bardstown Road under new owners. Former owner Brian Bruenderman closed the bar last year for personal reasons, but long-time fan of the neighborhood bar, John Packwood has decided to reopen with Kyle Llewellyn overseeing the day-to-day operations.

Packwood has added eight televisions for sports viewing, pledging not to focus on any one team, but be open to a wide range of fandom. Diamond Station will still serve pub food such as burgers and chicken fingers and other snacks, and stock more than 30 bourbons at “neighborhood” prices.

  • Falls City Brewing Co., which had been looking to open a larger brewing facility in Portland, has decided to move instead to a building at 901 E. Liberty St. in NuLu. The brewery, which Falls City hopes to open later this year, will have a taphouse with an outdoor beer garden, as well as a brewery with a canning line.
  • District 22 Pizzeria will be opening soon at 110 E. Main St. in downtown New Albany.  Matt McMahan, who also owns Big Four Burgers + Beer in Jeffersonville and New Albany, has named his new business for a somewhat obscure historical reference to New Albany having a motor vehicle licensing code of 22. The New Albany location of Big Four Burgers backs up to the new space, so there will be an overlap of the kitchen staff, general manager and kitchen. The proximity of the two buildings made it relatively inexpensive for McMahan to convert the small space by adding a pizza oven to the kitchen area of his burger restaurant. Pizza customers can dine-in, carryout or order by the slice, or have pies delivered.
  • The Weekly Juicery is planning on opening at 632 E. Market St. in NuLu. The Lexington-based business closed its original Louisville store in St. Matthews in December when the lease expired. Since then, their cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, teas and infusions have only been available at the Heine Brothers Coffee at 4901 Brownsboro Rd. in Holiday Manor. The Weekly Juicery will share the space with Louisville Cream, which is opening its first scoop shop on the other side of the Main St. space. The Weekly Juicery plans to open by mid-July.
  • Hooked on Frankfort, a fish house that plans to have outdoor patio dining is planned for 3202 Frankfort Ave. The space is two doors away from Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot; owners of that popular bbq spot, David and Robert Alvey, are the restaurateurs who are planning the fish house.
  • Metro Diner, a Florida-based chain, that serves “comfort food with flair,” according to its website,  plans to bring its all-day breakfast and familiar, filling meatloaf and chicken and waffles to 4901 Outer Loop, in a shopping center next to Jefferson Mall. The company hopes to start renovations on the space at the end of July, and open by October. If all goes well, Metro Diner hopes to expand further in the Louisville and Cincinnati area.
  • Going out a bit further into the future, Dave & Buster’s, a Dallas-based restaurant and entertainment complex, has announced that it is planning to open a location at Mall St. Matthews. Mall-goers will be able to pop in to play new arcade games, or chow down on burgers, wings, soups, salads, or have a few beers or drinks at the sports bar. An opening in 2018 is planned.
  • And we have just received word that Genghis Grill, the choose-your-own stir fry combo place at 4002 Towne Center Dr. in Springhurst has closed. The Dallas, Texas-based chain opened last year, and had developed a following for its fast-casual, prepared-before-your-eyes approach, but now, apparently, not enough of a following.