FOX41.com Louisville News Kentucky Indiana News Weather SportsRestaurant, drug store to re-open on Azalea site

Restaurant, drug store to re-open on Azalea site

By Bennett Haeberle WDRB-TV Fox 41 News

A famous Louisville landmark is about to undergo big changes.

The property owners and nearby residents of the former Azalea restaurant site reached a final agreement last week that will allow a new restaurant to be built on the former restaurant's footprint. As part of the deal, a nearby Rite-Aid pharmacy will also be built on a nearby vacant lot.

The compromise follow more than two years of back-and-forth and legal fights between the property owner, Skee Bauer, and residents of the Mockingbird Valley subdivision.

The Bauer family plans to re-open the Azalea restaurant site as a new restaurant on a smaller scale.

"It was really quite surprising, I've never seen that number. I've never seen that reaction. This place really did touch people's heart strings," said Michael Tigue, attorney.

Tigue represents Mockingbird Valley residents, who fought to have restaurant deemed a historic landmark.

"We found what objections were to the project and we've made modifications," said Skee Bauer, property owner. "The core of the building will remain and the patio will remain, it will be a smaller footprint, and the Rite-Aid building will be located behind that."

The new restaurant will be called Monterey, the restaurant owners currently operate 211 Clover Lane in St. Matthews.

"People are very happy that the restaurant will remain and very happy of the tenants that are coming in there," said Bauer.

"It was quite surprising how this resonated with people," said Tigue.

There is no time table for construction. Bauer still needs final design plans, and that will need city approval. One of the principal concerns that could delay the re-opening of the restaurant is that some residents would like to see a turn lane added to U.S. 42 to account for the increased traffic for the new pharmacy.

The location's historic landmark status will also increase the project's cost. Bauer wouldn't say how much.

"The costs are greater because of the historic status being placed on the restaurant building. It is in need of a lot of repair and we will do that," said Bauer.

Bauer said he hopes his attorney can meet with the Board of Zoning Adjustments in the next month or two to finalize the redevelopment plan.