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Will flooding keep Doc's Cantina closed for good?

The empty restaurant is causing some serious budget issues for the Waterfront Development Corporation because the park gets a cut of revenues and higher rent payments when its restaurant is open.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- It's been a big question from Waterfront Park visitors and now we might be closer to an answer.

The ‘Mex-Mex’ restaurant on River Road, Doc’s Cantina, known as the former Tumbleweed, has been closed for over a year, but President of Waterfront Park Development, David Karem told WHAS 11 News there might be a new partnership that could re-open the doors.

“We are working with a group that we feel pretty good about, it's just a matter of working through the paperwork and the agreements to see how serious they are,” Karem explained after a board meeting on Wednesday.

Doc's Cantina didn't last long. It was open only six months before sinking under bad reviews. Much of the restaurant building was under water after over a week of flooding. WHAS 11 News asked Karem if that could affect any decisions moving forward.

“Is the fact that the flood took place going to affect the leasability of it? The people said it would have nothing to do with that, not a problem in that regard. They know it's by the river, they know you're going to have to anticipate that,” he explained.

The empty restaurant is causing some serious budget issues for the Waterfront Development Corporation because the park gets a cut of revenues and higher rent payments when its restaurant is open.

“Of course, it hurts us. It hurts us at a number of levels, not only the revenue but who wants to have an empty building in the middle of the park?” Karem explained.

The park lost over $400,000 a year from the state, now depending largely on very generous donations that are really keeping the corporation afloat. The flood has also caused two events to cancel so far, money the park can't afford to lose.

“You never want to lose revenue, especially when you're in a situation where we need more revenue.”

Karem said crews are working fast to get Waterfront Park back to normal and expects the majority of the park to be accessible by this time next week.

A volunteer park clean-up will start at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. Volunteers should be able to park in the Green Lot.

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