LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The options for getting gas in downtown Louisville are becoming slimmer as a well-known company has announced the upcoming closure of one of its stations.
A company spokesperson confirmed with WHAS11 that Thorntons on South First and Broadway will close on Feb. 26.
Pat Mulloy, deputy mayor for economic development, sent WHAS11 a statement that said:
“The closure of Thorntons at First and Broadway is an opportunity for new development and future growth. First and foremost, we hope this, along with the Broadway All The Way project will increase safety around the intersection. We are optimistic the property will help create a true gateway into downtown and complement the significant and exciting investments we are seeing in the heart of our city, including Jefferson Technical and Community College’s $90 million revitalization project and the University of Louisville’s $280 million Health Sciences Simulation Center and Collaboration Hub in the LOUMED District.”
Thorntons did not give a reason for the closure.
LMPD data showed 34 crimes happened at the location in the past year: 18 assaults, seven thefts and three robberies.
In 2022, a security guard at the gas station shot someone over a stolen beer, claiming self defense. Ultimately, Tavon Parrish plead guilty to the crime. He's serving six-and-a-half years in prison for second-degree manslaughter.
With the closure, it only leaves two gas stations in the downtown area—one at South Hancock and Broadway in the Phoenix Hill neighborhood and one at South First and West Jefferson.
Milad Mehrbod, a medical student on clinical rotation at Norton Hospital, may have filled up at the Broadway Thorntons for the last time.
"I can basically just let it go to the bottom," he said while pumping gas into his car. "Then the red light's on. And I can just make sure, 'Oh this is the closest one,' so it's not gonna be a problem for me."
It will be a problem for him towards the end of the month, so he hopes something else will take it's place.
About a block away at Vocal-KY's drop-in clinic, they offer houseless people anything they can. With few public restrooms nearby, and Thorntons moving out, the clinic is one of the only places in the area for people to get off the street.
Pony Morris, an organizer with Vocal-KY, believes the city should stop camp clearings and start offering services at places like the nearby Thorntons where houseless people can be seen struggling.
"We know that there's a mental health crisis out there. We know that there's houseless out there," Morris said. "Thorntons shouldn't have to close down for our city to finally [say] 'Hey, take a look. We have an issue.'"
The news comes as Louisville officials have turned their focus to tourism in the area.
Two other businesses have announced their intentions to leave their iconic downtown Louisville buildings: Fifth Third Bank and Humana.
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