East End - Louisville, KY Area Guide

Development began in Louisville’s Outer East End when the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad extended tracks through the area in the mid-19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, the addition of an interurban rail line allowed for faster travel between the area and downtown Louisville. During this time, wealthy businessmen began building summer homes in the area so that they could escape Louisville’s hot summer weather. During the late 1900s, large estates were divided up and people began building upscale modern homes in the area. Residents visit the Middletown Museum on Shelbyville Road and the Jeffersontown Historical Museum in Jeffersontown to learn more about the area’s history. Several annual events take place in the outer east end, including Middletown’s Family Fun Festival and Craft Show and Christmas in Anchorage. Also, many residents drive into the downtown area to partake in Louisville’s annual Kentucky Derby Festival.

Restaurants line Route 146 and U.S. Route 60, providing area residents with a large variety of dining options. The area houses restaurants that serve everything from Thai, Mexican and Creole food to Japanese, Cuban and American fare. While no one type of cuisine stands out above the rest, expect to find the best food in the smaller, locally owned establishments. Fat Jimmy's Pizza on Shelbyville Road in Middletown serves some of the best pizza in the area. Locals love the warm, casual environment in this family owned restaurant and frequently opt to eat at Fat Jimmy's rather than call in a delivery order. The pizzeria features an all-you-can-eat salad, pizza, pasta and dessert buffet that gives diners the most bang for their buck. If you don't want pizza, try a turkey club wrap, the meatball pasta or the Fat Jimmy Club sub. For lunch, visit The Cheddar Box Cafe on Shelbyville Road. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the cafe features various reasonably priced lunch combinations. Regular customers rave about the curry chicken salad and the almond chicken and rice. Regardless of which entrée you order, make sure you save room for dessert. You don't want to miss the cafe's fresh-made banana pudding and Italian cream cake. Havana Rumba on Shelbyville Road serves flavorful Cuban dishes in a welcoming, festive environment. The restaurant's impressive tapas menu includes empanadas, Cuban tamales and Papas Rellenas, mashed potato balls stuffed with seasoned ground beef. Regular customers recommend the Cubano sandwich with a side order of sweet potato fries and the Pollo Fricasse. The nightlife scene in Louisville's Outer East End consists of sports bars, taverns and pubs. Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern on La Grange Road boasts a cozy, neighborhood feel and an outdoor dining area. The tavern features a daily happy hour and sells half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays and Sundays. Locals visit R Place Pub on Whipps Mill Road because if its pool table, dart boards and sand volleyball area. The pub attracts friendly patrons ready to down a few beers while they play a round of pool, making it a great choice for a laid-back evening. Visit Diamond Pub & Billiards to watch local bands perform. With its knowledgeable staff and a wide-range of beers and cocktails, Sergio's World Beers on Story Avenue makes the perfect spot to unwind after work.

The majority of Louisville’s Outer East End residents rely on their own vehicles for transportation. Direct access to U.S. Route 60 and Interstates 265 and 71 makes it easy for residents to navigate throughout the entire Louisville area, and the businesses in the area provide free parking. Residents who don’t drive mainly take the bus. Three of the Transit Authority of River City’s bus routes run through the Middletown, Douglass Hills and Woodland Hills area, Routes 31, 61X and 15. Unfortunately, public bus routes don’t travel through the Anchorage area. You can’t hail a cab in Louisville’s Outer East End. However, several local cab companies arrange transportation via the phone, and Uber services the area. For the most part, walking and bike riding remain leisurely activities, because the majority of the area’s residents commute into the city for work. But, Anchorage houses several bike-friendly roads, including Lake Forest Parkway, Avoca Road and portions of La Grange Road. Part of Shelbyville Road in Middletown has designated bike lanes, as well.

Louisville’s Outer East End houses E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, which sits on Freys Hill Road. The massive park spans 550 acres of land and features activities designed to appeal to everyone. Parents enjoy taking their little ones to one of the park’s two playgrounds, and dog owners take their furry friends to Sawyer Dog Park to enjoy some off-leash fun. The park houses a basketball court, BMX trail, 14 soccer fields, 12 tennis courts and three lighted softball fields. It also has an activities building, picnic shelters and a swimming pool. Exercise enthusiasts enjoy hiking along the Fitness Trail, which features 10 different exercise stations, and along the 1.25-mile Goose Creek Trail. The park also hosts several events throughout the year, including the Goose Creek 5k run and walk and the annual Irish Classic 10k.

The cost of living in Louisville’s Outer East End varies drastically depending on your location. The cost of living in Middletown, Douglass Hills and Woodland Hills averages between 7 percent and 12 percent higher than Louisville’s average cost of living. The cost of living in Anchorage proves to be the highest in the area, mostly due to its elaborate housing options. It averages around 73 percent higher than Louisville’s average cost of living. Expect to pay around $798 per month to rent a one-bedroom residence and between $3 and $5 for a beer at a local bar. It costs $1.75 for a one-way bus ticket or $2.75 if you ride the route 61X express bus. Typically, gas prices average around 1 percent higher than the national average.

The majority of the area’s retail establishments sit along Shelbyville Road. Also, a short drive west on Shelbyville Road takes you to Oxmoor Center and Mall St. Matthews, which feature a combination of department stores and upscale retail establishments. A Taste of Kentucky, located in Village Square on Shelbyville Road, specializes in themed gift baskets, unique pieces of art and sculptures, Kentucky Derby-related items, and home accessories. Purchase items such as a Derby Divas wine glass, which features a hand-painted design that pays tribute to the unique styles of clothing that women wear to the track, Mint Julep cups, Kentucky-related books and Maker’s Mark bourbon-flavored cherries. Residents complete their major grocery shopping at Walmart Supercenter on Diann Marie Road, Meijer on Towne Center Drive or Kroger on La Grange Road. Smaller stores, such as Lucky’s Market and Circle K, make it easy to pick up essentials between large grocery trips. Visit Zora’s Market for your favorite Greek foods and Choi’s Asian Food Market for Asian staples. For fresh produce, visit the Middletown Market. Located on Main Street in Historic Middletown, the year-round market opens outside during warmer months and opens indoors during the winter.