A year of growth: 3 businesses that opened numerous locations in Louisville this year

Posted by Admin October 30, 2024 Golf

This year has been bustling with new businesses opening in Louisville. Among the dozens of businesses that have opened this year, three types have emerged as popular leaders across the Louisville metro.

The quick service industry was bolstered with a multitude of on-the-go coffee shops and drive-thru car washes opening in the local market. On the casual entertainment scene, Louisville saw the arrival of numerous putt-putt and golf openings around town.

Here is a look at three trendy businesses that appear to be popping up all over Louisville:

Car washes

The local car wash industry was marred in January when it seemed the longstanding Thomas family was hanging up the towel and retiring from car washing. After more than 75 years of running car washes around Louisville, the beloved family-owned business sold off its business to Whistle Wash.

At the time of the retirement announcement, the family dubbed it a “See you later” and sure enough, seven months later, the Thomas family car washing heirs were back in business, but this time bringing a new style of washing to the scene.

Clementine’s Car Wash, currently located in La Grange with plans for future expansions, is a touchless washing system that takes place in a short bay with a massive and powerful washing machine that moves over and around a parked vehicle taking just a few minutes to complete, the Courier Journal previously reported.

Additionally, Louisville welcomed numerous car washing chains to the area, with the aforementioned Whistle Express and SpeedWash Car Wash becoming new market players. Mike’s Car Wash, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company, also expanded its Louisville presence.

Drive-thru and standalone coffee shops

Louisville may be a coffee lover’s dream with local chains such as Heine Brothers, Quills, and Sunergos offering the much-craved cup of joe.

But 2024 has seen new players join the mix. Building off of 2023’s momentum of drive-thru coffee chains such as Scooters taking a grip on the Louisville coffee scene, the new-to-market 7 Brew has opened nine locations across the city, with one as recently as Oct. 22 in Fern Creek.

In addition, Witches Brew Coffee opened at 1813 Frankfort Ave., opened a spooky-themed coffee shop in August and Bayt Almocha, which also has a location at 12107 Shelbyville Road, as well as spots in Michigan, recently opened its doors near the University of Louisville, at 327 W. Cardinal Ave.

Putt-Putt experiences

Following the entrance of Topgolf, an entertainment driving range venue, to Louisville two years ago, a couple of putt-putt sports have opened.

Puttshack, a one-of-its-kind mini golf course based out of The Green at Oxmoor Center, adjacent to the nearby Topgolf, opened its doors in March. The 25,000-square-foot “tech-infused mini golf experience” features a nine-hole course, live entertainment with a DJ booth, food and drinks, event spaces, and games including life-size beer pong, the Courier Journal previously reported.

Just two months later, South Seas Tiki & Golf Lounge opened its nine-hole mini-golf course in the Butchertown neighborhood. The tropical-themed restaurant, bar, and golf spot, 1301 Story Ave., offers unique Hawaiian-inspired cuisine and drinks alongside a creative mini-golf course.

A third golf-related entertainment venue, Five Iron, opened in the spring, bringing an indoor golf simulator experience and bar to the NuLu area at 836 E. Market St.

Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @oliviamevans_.