Here’s a new twist on the “food truck finds bricks ‘n’ mortar home” in which the Smokeasy Mobile Cigar Lounge is staking a claim on the former Pesto’s space downtown and inaugurating its own members-only club: Smokeasy The Private Lounge.
Given the many recent public discussions about the future of downtown Louisville, any mention of 566 S. Fifth St. is likely to cause observers to fondly recall Pesto’s, which enjoyed a lengthy run from 1988 through 2020 (the pandemic put paid to Pesto’s), but it bears a footnote that just before Pesto’s there was a Gold Star Chili at this address, which your correspondent recalls from having dined there a time or three while working downtown in 1988-89. Pesto’s was followed by the short-lived Huge Impact Restaurant.
As is customary, Michael L. Jones offers a deeper dive at Louisville Business First.
Exclusive: Smokeasy Mobile Cigar Lounge to open members-only club in former Pesto’s location
Member perks include complimentary Wi-Fi access, a full bar, a food menu provided by a rotating group of local chefs, a barber shop, quarterly members-only events, and, of course, cigars.
“We want this to be a place where you can come to close business and celebrate those types of things,” (co-owner Terrence) Johnson explained. “So, if you close business on site with us, there’s a no-cost notary service for that and then we will give you celebratory cigars to celebrate the business deal.”
Smokeasy The Private Lounge forecasts a May opening.
