All The Louisville Restaurants That Have Closed So Far In 2024

The Back Door

Possibly the soul crushingest of them all, The Back Door, Louisville's beloved late night instution closed its doors for good and we said goodbye to one of Louisville's longest lasting dive bars.

Rosette’s

Rosette’s, the Parisian-inspired restaurant inside Nulu’s Hotel Genevieve has officially shut down. Hotel representatives say they’re making way for “an exciting new concept.”

Nostalgic Restaurant & Cocktail House announced on Instagram that they'd be closing their doors for good on Sunday, July 28. Serving up modern spins on childhood classics, Nostalgic opened its doors to Bardstown Road in February 2023. Sister concept Naiive will continue in Butchertown.

Harvey's

Harvey's, the Australian café and restaurant at 2011 Frankfort Ave. has been "up to no gouda" in Louisville since 2019. But the restaurant, bar, and cheese shop recently shared some unfortunate news.

Lou Øyster Cült — an unqualified genius-level name for a pop-up oyster bar — has also announced that "the tide has turned" and it is time for their business to "get the shuck out of here." Their endearing use of puns make the news slightly (but only slightly) more bearable.

"The support and enthusiasm around our little roving raw bar has been truly astounding and humbling," owners Charlotte Boyd and Michael Michael Powell shared in an Instagram post. "But our lives look very different now than they did in 2021, and after much careful consideration (and a few salty tears), we've decided to hang up the apron and knives for good after this summer."

One of Señora Arepa’s two Louisville locations is also closing. The fast-casual Venezuelan arepita moved into the former Taco Luchador location at 938 Baxter Ave. in the Highlands in February 2024. Now, less than six months later, Las Margaritas Veracruz-style Mexican restaurant has announced that they are expanding from their location at 307 Central Ave. to a space at 938 Baxter Ave., currently occupied by Señora Arepa.

So while the Highlands welcomes the arrival of cocina a la Veracruzana, Louisvillians looking for Venezuelan food in a chill setting can still enjoy Señora Arepa at their St. Matthews location at 117 St. Matthews Ave.

Pivot Brewing

The Bardstown Road brewery announced their closure on Instagram with the following statement: "To our friends, fans, and familiar faces, thank you for the outpouring of support you have shown us since Pivot Brewing Company first opened our doors back in 2016 in Lexington, and again in 2023 in Louisville. We couldn't have done it without you. It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Pivot has reached the end of this incredible journey. All retail operations will cease, both in Lexington and Louisville, on August 31st, 2024."

Nowhere & Somewhere

Two next-door bars on Bardstown Road have closed after being evicted, according to the property owner of both establishments.

Nowhere Bar and Somewhere Bar, located side-by-side, are no longer the tenants at 1133 Bardstown Road and 1135 Bardstown Road. According to property owner the tennant hadn't paid rent in over 3 months.

Great Flood Middletown

After more than four years, Great Flood Middletown has closed its doors. "Thank you for the four and a half years we had serving you," an Instagram post from the restaurant states. "Please feel free to visit us at our Highland location which will continue to operate as normal."

El Mundo

Don't panic. Only the Frankfort Avenue location closed. The Bardstown Road restaurant is alive and well.

The Raven Irish Pub

The St. Matthews pub announced their closure on social media: "We are saddened to announce that we have decided not to renew our lease at The Raven, the last day will be May 31st. We have poured our blood, sweat and tears into our beloved pub, but have decided to turn our energy toward the family and give them the much needed time that they deserve."

Dundee Tavern

Dundee Tavern in the Belknap neighborhood just off Bardstown Road is changing its business model due to high overhead and rising food costs. "The current business model was not working. These financial decisions are critical for survival," Dundee Tavern posted on Facebook. "This was not a decision taken lightly and your current staff will still be working. We will still be family oriented atmosphere with your local owners but we had to simplify this business."

Tea Station Asian Bistro

The Norton Commons restaurant closed on July 29 and is set to be replaced by Louisville's second CM Chicken location.

Afrokanza Lounge

After shootings outside the restaurant and a number of investigated incidents, the restaurant closed, a relief to its Highlands neighbors.

Toast on Market

Toast on Market in New Albany (141 E. Market St., downtown) returned to social media after a lengthy hiatus and announced it will close for good on May 19. The breakfast and brunch-oriented restaurant originated in NuLu in 2006 before changing locations a few years later, and opened a second eatery in New Albany in 2011.

The Seafood Lady

The Seafood Lady’s Phoenix Hill bricks ‘n’ mortar location near NuLu at 601 E. Jefferson St. has closed, although Nichelle Thurston’s food truck will remain mobile.

“The restaurant industry is just not the same as it was five years ago. Things have changed,” she said. “A lot of things have changed — my kids have grown up, they are taking different careers at this time, staffing is one of the major problems," the owner wrote on social media.

The Cheddar Box

After 47 years, the original Cheddar Box at 3909 Chenoweth Square in St. Matthews closed.