The Stables of Cold Spring closes doors... again

Polly noted the closing of The Stables (Cold Spring, Ky.) in her food notes last month, but I was only now made aware of the site's second closing in a year after driving by the restaurant this evening. The Kentucky horse-racing-themed restaurant's commonwealth comfort food menu earned 2 stars from Polly when she reviewed it in October.

The restaurant opened Labor Day weekend last year to replace the Cold Spring Roadhouse, which closed May 27. Florence-based 3G Development purchased the restaurant for $1.5 million last April and spent $800,000 and three months remodeling the venue both inside and out. The restaurant has now closed once again, with only a sign advertising that the building is for sale or lease. The answering machine at the business announced it closed March 31, but gave no reason why.

The 110-year-old barn is considered to be a local landmark. Situated alongside a lake, it was built as a horse livery in the 1890s, became an inn in the 1920s and then housed a series of restaurants and nightclubs. Longtime locals best remember it as the site of the Guys and Dolls nightclub of the 1960s and 1970s, which drew people from hundreds of miles to dance, listen to music and party.

In towns and economies like this, historic properties have a way of disappearing, quietly falling prey to demolition and neglect. Building by building, site by site, evidence of a community's heritage can be gradually lost, taking with it much of the community's character, individuality and vitality. Here's hoping the building finds new ownership - and purpose - soon.