The NuLu Marketplace expansion will include first floor retail, restaurant, and entertainment space, as well as a potential rooftop bar. | Image courtesy of Noveen Holdings, LLC
There’s so much development news around Derby City that it’s hard to keep track of them all.
To help you keep up with what’s going up in Louisville, we’ve rounded up five development projects we’re watching this year.
NuLu Marketplace
This 47,000-sqft mixed use building on Market Street is about to get a whole lot bigger. In a plan unveiled last year, the developer Noveen said it would be adding more retail, restaurant, and entertainment space in an expansion behind the marketplace, between Billy Goat Strut Alley and Main Street. Now, the project is set to break ground on Monday, Feb. 3.
JeffBoat redevelopment
This one may not be in Louisville, but we’re sure to notice it. Back in 2023, Jeffersonville, IN officials announced a $1 billion rebuild of the former JeffBoat site, to include a 4,000-seat amphitheater, a 300-boat marina, residential units, a hotel, retail space, and more.
“Vermiglio” | Friday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 26 | Times vary | Speed Art Museum | $12 | Watch the story of a family meeting an Italian soldier during WWII — the film was Italy’s submission for Best International Film at the Oscars.
Saturday, Jan. 25
Turtle Yoga | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Second Chances Wildlife Center, Mount Washington | $15 | Enjoy a “flow then slow” style yoga class while Apache the sulcata tortoise wanders among the mats.
Cousins Maine Lobster | 12-7 p.m. | Goodwood Brewing | Price of purchase | Grab a clawed delicacy from this roaming food truck, and a beer while you’re at it.
India Fest 2025 | 1-9 p.m. | Kentucky Exposition Center | $15 | See classical and Bollywood dance performances, sample Indian food, and browse jewelry + textiles.
Leather, Lace, and Timeless Taste | 7-11 p.m. | FOKO | $25+ | Celebrate love for yourself and others while sampling appetizers from 721 Mint It Herb & Juice Bar + other Logan Street restaurants at this dance.
Sunday, Jan. 26
Ripple Effects Photo Contest Kickoff | 3-4:30 p.m. | Main Library | Free | Bring the kids to see an interactive puppet show on healthy waterways, meet with professional photographers, and take magnified pictures of water critters.
Highly Suspect | 8 p.m. | Old Forester’s Paristown Hall | $47+ | See this Cape Cod rock band on their “As Above, So Below” tour.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Hometown Tourist Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 1 - Monday, Feb. 10 | Times vary | Downtown Louisville | Prices vary | Residents of Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana are invited to be tourists in their hometown and celebrate their city by exploring local attractions in Downtown Louisville.*
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The 8th annual Louisville Local Business Expo is coming to the Mellwood Arts Center on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Over 60 local businesses will be present to network, and there will be one-on-one consultations on website design and finances for business owners. The free event runs 1-4 p.m.
Coming Soon
The Frankfort Avenue restaurant Enso will reopen sometime this spring. The Japanese-Southern fusion restaurant closed last year after sustaining a fire. A more detailed reopening timeline will be coming in the next few weeks.
Development
The Louisville nonprofit REBOUND Inc. purchased a 1.5-acre plot between the Russell and California neighborhoods this week. The organization plans to develop it into a building housing other local nonprofits, as well as affordable housing and a cafe. Groundbreaking is set for the next two to three years. (Louisville Business First)
Edu
Family Scholar House broke ground downtown this week on a new, 60-unit housing development for single-parent students. The modular apartments will cater to parents pursuing careers in medical fields, including nursing and pharmacy tech. (WDRB)
Try This
Louisville is for lovers — and best friends. Celebrate Galentine’s Day at Westport Village on Thursday, Feb. 13 with shops open until 8 p.m., DJ music, giveaways, sweets, and adoptable dogs from the Kentucky Humane Society. The festivities begin at 5 p.m.
Eat
VegKentucky, the new service from the people behind VegFest + V-Grits, has a new menu item on its ready-to-eat meal service. Order a bahn mi bowl with tofu, rice, veggies, and a Vietnamese dressing for pickup, along with wraps + take-and-bake options — all of them vegan. We’ll take ten, please.
Closed
The Frankfort Avenue J. Gumbo’s restaurant is closed, and the space is for lease. The owner, Joseph Montgomery, cited increasing costs and the recent severe weather as factors in the closure. The Grinstead Drive location of the fast-casual Cajun restaurant will remain open. (Louisville Business First)
Sports
With just a few weeks to go before the big dance, Louisville men’s basketball team’s win over SMU this week was important for their NCAA Tournament resume. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Cards with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Skip expensive airline tickets + opt for a fun and affordable family road trip instead. With Outdoorsy, you can rent an RV for as little as $47 per night. Learn more.*
Category
Open
Food for the soul
Counter seat by the window or table for two? | Photo via Brunch and Soul
Can you smell what’s cooking?
Louisville’s newest soul food joint Brunch and Soul is now open in a permanent location, at 561 S. 18th St.
Chef Liyah Richmond started the concept online in 2021, posting recipes + offering delivery, take-away, and catering. Now, she’s taken the business offline, opening the doors on her first sit-down restaurant.
Fried green tomatoes, wings, Cajun chicken pasta, and chicken and waffles are among the menu options Wednesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Additional menu items are available during Saturday Brunch and Sunday Soul Food afternoons.
Brunch and Soul came together with the help of OneWest, a community development nonprofit, and its restaurant incubator program, which provides residency and rent assistance, plus help with business fundamentals like marketing, bookkeeping, and planning.
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I was a late-comer to coffee drinking. I discovered my go-to coffee shop order thanks to FOKO‘s cortado con azucar, but I still have yet to decide on my preferred at-home brewing method.
That’s why I was excited to see Prima’s new storefront. The coffee equipment supplier now has a retail shop for coffee lovers. Maybe now I can finally learn my aeropress from my Chemex.
Answered
Answered
Who should headline Bourbon & Beyond 2025?
Earlier this week, we asked who you’d like to headline Bourbon & Beyond this year. Post Malone got the lion’s share of the votes from our suggestions, but there was one standout write-in candidate: SZA.
We shouldn’t be surprised — she headlined the inaugural Gazebo Festival last year. Maybe shecan share the stage with Jack to make up for his canceled performance.
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