Many neighbors happy Phoenix Hill Tavern is closing

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A Louisville hot spot since the late 1970s is now history.

The immediate closure of Phoenix Hill Tavern Monday came along with the owner's other nightclub, Jim Porters Good Time Emporium.

Employees found out by a note on the door from owner Ben Rogers, who also offered them at least $50 and a reference letter.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Phoenix Hill Tavern, Jim Porter's close permanently, effective immediately]

While some folks spent Monday waxing poetic about the great

live music venue that was Phoenix Hill Tavern over the last 39 years, not everyone was sad about it.

Neighbor Samuel Glasscock Sr. said, "I was real happy about it!"

For Glasscock and other neighbors, the memories aren't so great. He said the closed sign on the door was a sign of prayers answered. "I was so thankful," said neighbor Jackie Priest, "we are looking forward to sleeping, especially on Wednesday nights."

Wednesday night, better known by the neighbors as "cheap drink night" has been the issue for the last several years. WAVE 3 News has documented the complaints over the years, from car break-ins to armed robberies.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Phoenix Hill neighbors ask for help fighting crime]

"They're happy, they're really happy," said Charles Cecil of his neighbors.

After four decades here, Cecil knows the pulse of the neighborhood and he knows Phoenix Hill Tavern as he was one of the first bouncers to work there in the late 1970s. Now, he and other neighbors feel bad for employees finding out they lost their jobs, but he said it's time for the place to shut down.

Just two weeks ago, Cecil said he had to call police again.

"They busted the bottom of my door," Cecil said of a couple of drunk Phoenix Hill customers. "I went down there (Phoenix Hill Tavern) and he (Rogers) replaced it for me, which I'm happy about that."

Cecil said Rogers is a good guy at heart and an owner who once had a great music venue. But like many of his neighbors, Cecil believes this retirement is worth celebrating.

Priest said, "We did celebrate when we found out, we were like 'yes!'" Many neighbors heard the space will become a condo or apartment building, but there's been no confirmation of that.

A spokesman for Mayor Greg Fischer's officer said no development plans have been filed yet. As for Jim Porters, it was sold to MSD in April.

Calls made to Rogers for comment were not returned as of Monday evening.

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