A cornerstone of Louisville’s Cajun dining scene has closed its doors. The J. Gumbo’s restaurant at 2109 Frankfort Avenue, the flagship location of the fast-casual Cajun chain, shut down last week after 19 years.
Joseph Montgomery, the franchisee behind the Clifton location and another J. Gumbo’s at 1616 Grinstead Drive in the Highlands, cited rising operational costs and the impact of severe winter weather as key factors in the decision to close in an interview with Louisville Business First.
“The weather really messed up things for cash flow, and the employees live far away,” Montgomery explained in a Business First article. “It should be easier to maintain the one store. Frankfort has been losing money for a while for various reasons, including street closures, nearby construction, and parking issues that hurt our dinner business.”
The Frankfort Avenue restaurant, which opened in July 2005, was known for its authentic Cajun and Creole offerings based on recipes passed down from the family of founder Billy Fox Jr., a former thoroughbred jockey. Despite its popularity, the restaurant faced challenges in recent years, including infrastructure issues and competition for parking space.
The 1,300-square-foot property is now available for lease. Jonathan Fairfield of PRG Commercial Property Advisors noted there is already interest in the site. “I’ve shown it to a couple of different restaurant groups,” Fairfield said to Louisville Business First, adding that the property is ready to lease immediately.
While the closure marks the end of an era for the flagship location, Montgomery confirmed that the Grinstead Drive restaurant remains open, as does a Middletown location operated by Denise Fox, the sister of J. Gumbo’s founder.
The brand also operates seven locations across Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee, in addition to offering prepackaged meals in retail outlets like ValuMarket.
J. Gumbo’s originally debuted as Gumbo A Go-Go Cajun & Creole Restaurant, a name that reflected its Louisiana roots. The chain has long been celebrated for its hearty dishes inspired by the cooking traditions of Gran Coteau, Louisiana.
