LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – A few buildings on Bardstown Road are being turned by a local developer into a dozen Airbnbs and a bourbon bar.
Co-owner Sean Williams said the original buildings were built in the 1920s and added over the years. The maze of buildings is being renovated for 12 luxury Airbnb units and a vintage bourbon bar tenant on the first floor. The hope is to open by the end of the year or early next year.
“Building and managing this is definitely going to be a challenge, as this is essentially a small boutique hotel,” said Williams. “Everything has been completely redone from the ground up, and it’s really geared towards short stays.”
The Bungalou Group bought the properties at 1137 to 1143 Bardstown Road, which more recently housed a tattoo parlor, retail store and several apartments. The new owners, until this project, were knocking down houses and decided to take the plunge with a larger development. The original plan was to renovate the apartments, but Williams said they changed their plans once the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
“We bought it two months before this pandemic, and it just hit us in the face,” Williams said. “And as we got into construction, foundations and permits with the city, it was all a tall order. We couldn’t tear it down because of the historic district, but we’re excited to bring it back to life.
Instead of demolishing it, the team rebuilt the foundations, flattened the walls and floors, and emptied every room. Each Airbnb will have secure private entrances, but units can also be connected and rented together for larger groups.
“This is one of our premium units that we have,” said Williams inside a spacious one-bedroom apartment with a roof terrace overlooking Bardstown Road. “It can be rented on its own. Or if you are having a party or event for 50 to 60 people, you can all combine the units together.
Williams said they have decided to invest in luxurious and unique finishes for each unit in order to stand out from the competition in the Highland area. The 12 units will also have access to a shared outdoor courtyard which will have games, living rooms and fire pits.
The smaller retail space at the front of the building will become a welcome center for Bungalou where customers can check-in and purchase local produce unique to Louisville. The other two commercial spaces are combined for one tenant to create a vintage bourbon bar and tasting room.
There’s still a lot of work to be done, but Williams said it would be worth it.
“The co-owners, we are from the city of Louisville, born and raised here,” he said. “Bardstown Road, historically, has been one of the busiest corridors in the city, and I’ve really felt like it’s plunging over the past few years. Love it around here. I really want to see the area. back to what it was before. I know there are other plans, so we are very excited to revitalize the area. “
Airbnb rates have not yet been set. Williams said the goal is for the company to be operational by the end of 2021 or early 2022. The pandemic is still impacting building materials, labor, prices and prices. furniture deliveries.
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