3.5
So this is Butchertown now? Interesting. It seems like the neighborhood footprint is expanding.
When I was Christmas shopping for local and specific gifts, my search led me to this corner of Butchertown that was not as bloody or smelly as the Butchertown I remember. It makes sense as it appears that this part of the neighborhood was always residential. This strip of businesses appearing to be a bunch of converted shot guns. I parked and walked up to the front and... Gaga. The store was blaring Lady Gaga at 11 in the morning. Okay. Cool. It's this kind of party. Let's do this.
Walking in... I don't know what I expected. While this is a very locally-centered store, it (to my impression) seemed a bit more Maxwell's than The Kentucky Store. Expect to find a bunch of bath products, tchotchkes, irreverent t-shirts, mugs and other items with various Louisville/Kentucky imagery, candles, and LGBT-positive products. The lights are bright and the music is pumping... and young. Sometimes you're in the mood for Rihanna and other times... you're not. On that particular Friday morning, I was not in the mood but I couldn't hate on people who were. Potato, potahtoe. All the while I (and others) were in the store, the clerk was face-deep into his phone. I don't think he was doing it to be rude. I think it was a generational divide. Rather than greet customers, he would rather post, tap, swipe, and interact with a mobile device. It get it. It's very Black Mirror, but I get it.
Looking around, I happened upon a soap line that focused on subaltern people making positive products. Cool. Fine. I'll take one. The problem is, the entire line ranged from raunchy to loud. Rather than 'I'm Horny' or 'Dirty', I was looking for something that said, 'I'm OK' or 'I Matter.' You can do less with more, folks. Again, I think this might be an age thing. Wait. WTH. Why am I coming here and being made to feel like I should be watching Matlock on a Saturday night? #notcool In any event, I found some earth mother-esque products to buy that would be appropriate for the gift recipient. I don't know that I'm the target demographic for a large purchase from LouABull but the store is unique enough to spend some time looking around and maybe even purchasing something small and witty.
But what do I know? Reading over this review, I am one step away from getting a room at Shady Acres. Gen Z, have at it. read more