Pig City BBQ

Not sure when it happened, but Pig City BBQ seems to have gone away. They haven't been open in awhile, their website is down, and there's a huge angry unremovable sticker from the Coca-Cola Company rudely slapped on the glass, wanting their drink machines back.


It's a shame, because this was a great place right down the road from me that had a dee-lish variety of BBQ sauces at the tables (Though the brisket was so tasty, truly, no sauce was needed).

The furniture and fixtures seem to all still be there, though, so maybe they're just remarshaling their forces for a new barbecue attack....

Portland Bait and Tackle

I would have liked to have done some tradin' here back in Portland Bait & Tackle's heyday. I've never been to a fishing shop that also dealt in used tires.

Charlie's Used Furniture

Near the corner of 15th and Market.

Starlight Frozen Custard

Earlier this summer, Twysters Frozen Custard, owned by the same folks, went out of business, and now its sister store has given up the ghost as well.

(I hate to say "I told you so", but the owner really should have let me take a picture of his damn cone and feature him in my book, instead of running me off. Sad, I tell you.)


It's a shame, too, because they had great custard. I went for an extended year-long jag where I had one of their chocolate malteds every day. Somehow I managed to break the spell. I think discovering the joys of Starbucks Mocha Frappucinos is what weaned me off the malts.

Main Street Ice & Cold Storage

One of downtown Louisville's most memorable old buildings, loaded with character. A year ago, Broken Sidewalk reported that the Arctic Building would soon be converted into affordable apartments.

A year later, no sign of any progress whatsoever, and the Ice House Lofts blog doesn't sound like "affordable apartments" to me - it's talking about loft condos starting at $189,500.

I think I'm in no hurry to see the Arctic Building and its lime green loading dock be modified. I like it just the way it is.

D & W Silks

Speaking as someone with a less than urgent need for silk flowers, I never patronized D&W Silks. But I always enjoyed driving by it and being triggered to burst into song with "D.W. Washburn" by the Monkees.

According to their website, their corporate office is at 3301 Dixie Highway.



Looks like quite a bit of stuff on this block is being demolished. I shudder to speculate on what's to come.

Boland-Maloney Lumber

Boland-Maloney Lumber has closed its Main Street location. You can still find them at 4010 Collins Lane, however.

Sandman Pottery

A former Chevron gas station, Sandman Pottery did business here on Shelbyville Road for a short time, then departed this past summer.

Falls City Theatre Equipment Company

Last winter, I featured this old storefront's sign on the Unusual Kentucky blog but didn't delve into the building itself.


It's located at 429 S. 3rd Street in downtown Louisville, next door to Kentucky Typewriter in the abandoned Morrissey Building. Act fast if you want to see it - I suspect it's earmarked for destruction just like most other cool old buildings, and there's been some recent activity inside. Let's keep our fingers crossed that someone's actually about to rehabilitate this amazing structure.

When you look through the window, you can see the remains of what must have been spectacular old painted murals on the walls. And check out those marble-swirl columns.

Roth Realty

Roth Realty on Brownsboro Road in Clifton's lookin' mighty empty.