These 7 new businesses opened in downtown Louisville this year

Downtown Louisville has welcomed a slew of new businesses and investments this year as it struggles to come back following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, the city created a $3 million incentive program to attract businesses back to downtown. It also is redeveloping vacant lots it owns. Most recently, the mayor's office released an economic development report with much focus on downtown, including creating a reimagined Belvedere, making the area more pedestrian friendly and repurposing office buildings for residential and hospitality use.

On Dec. 6, Derby City Gaming Downtown will open at 140 S. 4th St., exactly 150 days before the 150th Kentucky Derby. This venue — which will be an annex of the famed Churchill Downs Racetrack, bringing historical horse racing betting machines, three bar concepts and entertainment — is a $90 million investment in downtown.

Here's a look at six more businesses that burst into downtown Louisville this year.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Downtown Louisville Experience

730 W. Main St. bardstownbourbon.com

Bardstown Bourbon Company launched a tasting room on historic Whiskey Row in October. This satellite space for its Bardstown distillery offers interactive education and tasting experiences, craft cocktails, augmented reality and immersive digital experiences, as well as retail merchandise and bottle sales. Visitors have their choice of three bourbon experiences to choose from, including a blending class where participants study the aromas, flavors and finishes of bourbons, and then have the opportunity to create their own bourbon blend.

Buzzard's Roost

624 W. Main St. buzzardsroostwhiskey.com

Buzzard's Roost joined downtown Louisville's bustling Whiskey Row in April. The whiskey company is known for its detailed approach with its barrels, and it works with its cooperage to tweak each parameter to deliver specific flavor profiles to its spirits. Guests can book several different experiences at Buzzard's Roost, including a craft cocktail class, a barrel-focused sensory experience and a bourbon pairing with local chocolates. The distillery also has a cocktail bar that does not require reservations.

Castle and Key 502

400 S. Second St, castleandkey.com

Castle & Key Distillery opened a tasting room inside the Omni Louisville Hotel's Falls City Market in April. The outpost of the Woodford County distillery serves as a small retail shop and bar. While the urban space lacks the iconic castle structure and stunning gardens of the historic property, the bartenders are experts on the company's spirits and guests can shop for bottles the same way they would at the distillery. This is meant to be a bite-sized experience that brings Louisville visitors up close and personal with the brand, even if they don't have time to venture outside of the city.

Laugh Louisville

441 S. Fourth St., laughlouisville.com

In April comedy gurus John Tobin and Norm Laviolette opened Laugh Louisville, the second franchise in their Boston-based Laugh brand, bringing a comedy theater back to Fourth Street Live! for the first time in roughly a decade. Laugh Louisville is a live, stand-up comedy, improv and live podcast club that intends to bring acts with regional and national acclaim to downtown Louisville. The theater space has been renovated with a larger stage, increased seating capacity, and a variety of upgrades from cosmetic improvements to an all-new sound system. The club owners previously said they hoped to be part of the revitalization of the downtown area and aim to use laughter as a way to draw people back to the once-lively area.

Number 15

121 W. Main St. nmbr15.com

The five-story Whiskey Row social hall, Number 15, opened earlier this year, providing downtown with an entertainment and bar spot that includes a lower-level sports bar called Last Place, a main floor stage, a balcony bar, an event rental space and a penthouse suite. The venue offers free live music each night on the main stage. Set to showcase Kentucky spirits, food and music in the former whiskey warehouse, Number 15 intends to "pay homage to the founding fathers of Kentucky spirits, while also providing a space to uniquely showcase those following in their footsteps," Spencer Fronk, CEO of Numbers Holding Company, the parent organization of Number 15, previously told the Courier Journal.

Pelo West

140 N. Fourth St. Suite 1700 inside the Galt House Hotel, pelowest.com

Pelo West will open Dec. 1 on the 17th floor of the Galt House Hotel. The urban luxury spa is owned by Louisville native Kaitlyn Hubert; this is her third spa and salon in Kentucky. Services include massage, facial, hair and nails. Saunas are available in the women’s and men’s changing areas. Hubert worked in high-end salons in New York City and Los Angeles before returning to Louisville to open Pelo Middletown in 2021. The Galt House location's comfortable, yet upscale design is loosely inspired by a salon Hubert worked at in Manhattan. She is considered a beauty industry influencer and trendsetter, and she has built a following of more than 140,000 on Instagram account @kaitlyn_hubert.

Reporters Matthew Glowicki and Kirby Adams contributed to this report. Reach reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com. Reach reporter Maggie Menderski at mmenderski@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Derby City Gaming joins these 6 new businesses in downtown Louisville