By Matthew Glowicki – Louisville Courier-Journal
Jun 18, 2025

June 18, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

Michaels is expanding by acquiring Joann’s intellectual property and private label brands following the brand’s closure after filing for bankruptcy.

• Burlington is set to replace the recently closed Joann fabric and crafts shop at Shelbyville Road Plaza in Louisville.
• Joann closed all locations by May 2025 after filing for bankruptcy for a second time.
• The former Joann location in Clarksville, Indiana, remains vacant.

A recently vacated anchor retail space at a St. Matthews shopping hub is getting a new tenant.

Fabric and craft retailer Joann recently went out of business, shuttering its network of hundreds of stores after filing for bankruptcy in March 2024 and again in January 2025.

The end of the 82-year-old business meant vacancies at 4600 Shelbyville Road at Shelbyville Road Plaza and at 1025 Veterans Parkway at Waterfront Park North shopping center in Clarksville, Indiana.

Burlington, a department store retailer formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, appears to be moving into the vacated Louisville location, according to a brochure for the shopping center, owned by Hagan Properties.

The 389,000-square-foot retail hub is situated on 30 acres with tenants including Nordstrom Rack, Trader Joe’s, Old Navy, Quest Outdoors, Cost Plus World Market and more.

An email to Hagan Properties was not returned. A Burlington spokesperson declined comment.

Burlington also has nearby stores at 3560 Bardstown Road and 9070 Dixie Highway in Louisville and at 4101 Town Center Blvd. in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Meanwhile, the now empty Joann storefront in southern Indiana is still looking for its next occupant.

That nearly 25,000-square-foot property is available for lease, according to a leasing brochure from commercial real estate agency CBRE. Other tenants include Target, Best Buy and Old Navy, among others.

While Joann stores all closed by May 31, craft retailer Michaels announced in early June it had acquired intellectual property and private label brands from its former competitor, meaning former Joann shoppers will be able to find familiar products at the Texas-based retailer.

By Bailey Loosemore  – Reporter, Louisville Courier Journal
April 3, 2024

Fewer Louisvillians are looking for large homes.

At least that’s the thought behind a spate of new townhome construction taking place citywide.

In April, the first tenants are expected to begin moving into the 72-unit Bull Run Townhomes in Graymoor-Devondale, and owners of the development say there’s already a waitlist for those still under construction.

A smaller complex, Wellston Place, is now selling townhomes in St. Matthews.  And several proposals in the city’s pipeline include similar attached single-family homes, which are connected by exterior walls and often have smaller yards to increase density while still giving residents the feel of having their own space.

Local developers say shifts in mindsets and home prices have led townhomes to attract wider audiences than before.  And such construction has taken off nationally, with townhouses accounting for almost 20% of total housing starts at the end of 2023, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Historically, attached single-family homes have drawn older residents looking to downsize, said Craig Mayer, a partner with Leisure Development who’s seeking approval to build 51 patio homes near Bullitt County.

But today, more residents of all ages want the ease of smaller yards and shared community spaces, he and others said.  And denser construction can make townhomes more affordable than traditional single-family.

“With the way the economy has changed and the housing shortage, I’m selling to nurses, teachers, people just getting into the housing market,” Mayer said of recent patio homes he’s built, which often sell for around $250,000.  “…I’ve done several projects like this, and it really hits all aspects of the market.”

Townhomes, however, can be versatile to fit the needs of residents across all incomes and lifestyles, developers said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Bull Run, Hagan Properties is courting higher wage earners with the “lock and leave mentality” who want to be part of a community but don’t want the “upkeep and frustration that comes with maintaining a home,” said Layson Hagan, a principal and developer with the company.

Townhomes there will all be for rent, with prices starting at $2,950 per month.  The development includes a playground, dog park, fitness center, pool and 24/7 maintenance.  And each unit comes with a double garage.

“It feels more like a neighborhood than an apartment complex,” Hagan said, adding Bull Run has seen interest from everyone from young families to Baby Boomers.  “…We think it’s going to be a big success.  There’s a substantial amount of people out there looking for something like this.”

Chris Thompson, CEO of Alter Development, is also watching Bull Run for success.

Alter is behind the 12-unit Wellston Place townhomes in St. Matthews and is planning another 12 luxury townhomes on Brownsboro Road.

“I think Hagan is going to test the market to see if people are ready to accept it in Louisville,” Thompson said of larger townhome developments.  “We’re dipping our toe in at a smaller level.”

Thompson said he was surprised by the interest Wellston Place has already seen, with more than 100 people attending three recent open houses.  And if all goes well, he could see the uptick in townhome construction continue.

“I’m much more interested in building townhomes than apartments,” he said.  “I think that’s what people really want.  They’re not stacked on top of one another.  I think people perceive it as a more convenient way to live.”

By Eleanor Tolbert  – Reporter, Louisville Business First
July 14, 2023

https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2023/07/14/26-million-bull-run-townhomes-planned.html

A new housing development is underway in the East End.

Crews recently broke ground on Bull Run Townhomes, located at 1922 Her Lane.  The $26 million project comes from Louisville-based Hagan Properties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The luxury townhome development will consist of 72 build-for-rent units.  Layson Hagan, principal and developer at Hagan Properties, said for-rent townhomes give tenants an option for those who may not be able to afford a home.

“There is a substantial shortage of homes nationally and in Louisville, and many of the homes that are available are beyond the reach of many prospective homebuyers who may not have the down payment necessary to buy a home,” Hagan said in an email.

The community will feature three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,850 square feet to 2,350 square feet each.  Each will include a two-car garage, doggie doors and privacy fences.

The community amenities include a private community swimming pool, social grilling patio, 24/7 fitness center, dog park with agility equipment, children’s playground and fire pit lounge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Our goal has been to design a product that is in keeping with the latest national trends for residential neighborhoods and single-family for lease communities,” Hagan said.  “We visited, in-person, neighborhoods in Phoenix, Arizona; Savannah, Georgia; and Nashville, Tennessee.  We’ve taken great care in designing highly desirable floor plans with unit features/amenities that set them apart from the market.”

Along with that, tenants of Bull Run Townhomes get the convenience of renting, like avoiding ongoing maintenance and upkeep, with the quality of a house.

“Many tenants prefer the flexibility to ‘Lock & Leave’ and not have the responsibility of home ownership,” Hagan said.

Construction is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2024.  It will be constructed, managed and leased by Hagan Properties, Inc.  The plans show Gresham Smith, which has an office in Louisville, will be providing its services to the project.  Hagan said the architect was Terry White with Lynn White and Associates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bull Run Townhomes is located near Ballard High School and next to Hagan Properties’ future complex, Providence Point Apartments.  Hagan said the site has been on the company’s radar for over a decade.

“Hagan Properties rezoned the adjacent property (Providence Point) in 2006, and shortly after purchased a Right of Refusal from the previous land owners of the site in question,” Hagan said.  “This protected our investment in Providence Point and ensured that a proper transition from high-density to low-density would be provided between Providence Point and the Graymoor-Devondale neighborhood.”

The complex will occupy the site of the former KABA Select Sires, a company within the cattle industry.  The name Bull Run Townhomes is a nod to that history.,

By Kirby Adams  – Reporter, Louisville Courier Journal
February 21, 2024

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/events/kentucky-derby/hats/2024/02/21/the-hat-shoppe-has-everything-to-make-your-own-kentucky-derby-hat/72187820007/

A master milliner of couture hats who is also a five-time featured milliner of the Kentucky Derby has stepped up to save the day for thousands of local race fans.

Jenny Pfanenstiel could almost hear an audible gasp spread through the Louisville community in August 2023 when Dee’s, a popular destination for DIY hat makers and designers announced it was permanently closing after 52 years in the hat, craft, and decor business.

With the 150th Kentucky Derby coming up on May 4, Louisville customers were frantic about where they would find their hat-making supplies or work with an affordable hat maker to create their Kentucky Derby hat or fascinator.