Downtown Restaurants Take Hit in Downturn

Louisville restaurants had a tough year in 2008 and many continue to struggle to bring diners through the door. But Kentucky Restaurant Association head Stacy Roof says attracting diners – who feel they don’t have the money to spend dining out –is only one of the problems restaurants are facing.“Food costs are higher than they have been in years, and commodity prices really hit some new all time high levels last year.  Even liquor prices for restaurants that serve alcohol went up.  So I think they were fighting things on both ends," Roof says.Downtown Louisville’s restaurant scene has been particularly hard hit.  Downtown, Stella, Lolo’s Table, EP’s Delta Kitchen, Jillian’s, and Primo have all closed within the past year.