OUR HISTORY
Outlook Inn was established in July of 1974 by owners Ralph and Linda Bridgers after their previous establishment just a few miles down Bardstown road was demolished in the tornado of ’74 that ripped through the Highlands neighborhood. The building the Outlook resides in has been researched going back as far as 1870. From that research the building has always functioned as some type of Saloon or Tavern; initially being “Mohr’s Grocery”. The term grocery being synonymous with a saloon where you went to grab a drink and pick up other necessities.
The location then changed hands to J. Hoffmann and operated as “J. Hoffmann’s Grocery & Saloon” from 1874 all the way up to prohibition in 1920. In 1920 J. Hoffmann changed the saloon portion of the establishment to a “Soft Drink Stand”. However, from stories passed down from former patrons and actual articles found in the 1921 Courier Journal – it was well known that Hoffmann’s Soft Drink stand was a place you could still go and grab a pint of liquor for the right price.
Below is a snippet of the CJ article from July 1921, 4 Places Raided by Dry Agents for selling “whisky”.
Following the end of prohibition, 916 Baxter avenue became known as “Christy Bar” after the name of the adjacent street Christy Avenue. The building remained Christy Bar from around 1933 up until Ralph and Linda took it over in 1974 and rebranded it as Outlook Inn. Ralph and Linda have owned and operated the Outlook for 50 years as of this coming July 2024.
Megan Hook, Ralph and Linda’s daughter has earned her keep at the Outlook starting as a bartender in April of 2006 and taking over as AGM then GM of operations around 2012. Megan, with Ralph & Linda peaking over her shoulder, has kept the family tradition happy and alive at the Outlook with the friendly melting pot of clientele to the World Famous Bloody Mary’s served on the daily. The Outlook remains the oldest bar on the Baxter Avenue block, and we like to think in the whole city of Louisville.
Have questions or want more info? Contact us here or call us at 502-583-4661