We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Germantown and Schnitzelburg, urge the Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to deny Pop’s Place Bar LLC (1100 Ash Street, Louisville, KY 40217) a new or renewed liquor license.

Pop’s Place has repeatedly disrupted our neighborhood and put our community at risk. While other local establishments like Merryweather, Old Hickory, Democratic Club, Checks, Monnik, and Haucks manage their businesses responsibly and respectfully, Pop’s Place has consistently failed to meet even the most basic standards of lawful operation.

The issues are clear and ongoing:

• Loud music and after-hours activity well past the legal 2:00 a.m. closing time — sometimes until 5:00–6:00 a.m.
• Patrons loitering on sidewalks and neighboring yards, leaving behind trash, broken bottles, and cigarette butts.
• Public urination and disorderly behavior, captured on home security cameras.
• Overservice of alcohol, leading to intoxicated individuals attempting to enter neighbors’ homes and creating serious safety concerns.
• A lack of oversight from the owner and management, who allow patrons to congregate anywhere they please instead of limiting activity to designated outdoor spaces.
• Rowdy patrons bickering and fighting in the yards of neighboring homes.

The conduct of Pop’s Place violates numerous Kentucky statutes and Louisville Metro ordinances, including:

• KRS § 243.450(1): No license shall be issued if the premises are not suitable or if operation would adversely affect public health, safety, morals, or welfare.
• KRS § 243.490(2): ABC may deny or revoke a license if the licensee has maintained a disorderly place or permitted illegal, disruptive, or unsafe conduct.
• KRS § 243.500(1)(d): Licenses may be revoked or denied if the licensee fails to exercise proper control over the conduct of the business.
• KRS § 244.080: Prohibits sale or service of alcohol to intoxicated persons (overservice).
• KRS § 244.290: Prohibits sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• LMCO § 113.25: Prohibits sales and service of alcohol after 2:00 a.m.
• LMCO § 113.31: Requires licensees to prevent their premises from becoming a public nuisance.
• LMCO § 91.021 (Noise Ordinance): Prohibits sound that “unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.”
• LMCO Ch. 99, § 99.02 (Unlawful Conduct): Makes it unlawful for any person or entity to create “unreasonably loud, harsh, or excessive noise” that disturbs or endangers others.
• LMCO Ch. 99 (Zero-Tolerance Noise Policy, 2023 Amendment): Defines noise plainly audible at 50 feet as a violation and subjects bars to immediate $2,500 fines without warnings.

The contrast is undeniable. Since Pop’s Place has been closed in recent months, our block has been noticeably safer, quieter, and cleaner. The difference shows this is not “part of living in Germantown,” but the result of one establishment’s disregard for community standards, public safety, and the law.

We believe in a vibrant Germantown/Schnitzelburg where residents and businesses coexist in harmony. Pop’s Place has shown that it cannot or will not operate responsibly. Granting this bar another liquor license would only perpetuate disorder, undermine neighborhood safety, and erode the trust we place in city officials to protect our community.

For these reasons, we respectfully ask Louisville Metro ABC to deny Pop’s Place Bar LLC’s liquor license application and protect the health, safety, and well-being of our neighborhood.