A national restaurant chain with several locations in our region has filed for bankruptcy and closed 38 of its gastropubs.
However, Bar Louie locations in Owensboro and Lexington, Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana will remain open.
Michael Frierdich and his wife launched the Bar Louie franchise in Evansville 10 years ago. Frierdich said he had recent discussions with corporate headquarters in Texas.
“I have heard of no franchise stores closing at this time. It’s just corporate stores that were nonperforming, and most of them were in malls where the traffic’s down and the sales are down," said Frierdich. "It’ll have no impact on our operation in Evansville. We just signed a new franchise agreement for 10 additional years.”
Frierdich and his wife also launched the Owensboro Bar Louie two years ago, and sold the franchise after one year.
CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Candace Brake said the Owensboro Bar Louie is locally-owned by Gulfstream Commercial Services and will stay open.
The manager at Bar Louie at Fayette Mall in Lexington said that location will also remain open.
