LOUISVILLE, Ky. — How hot is Nulu? Just ask artist Billy Keith. He specializes in solar pyrography. He’s holding up the East Market street tradition that started here 100 years ago, but the street withered away to nothing.
And now? Developed Mo Deljoo says, “it’s a hip place to be right now.” He just bought 11 buildings in the hottest zone of Nulu, on East Market and is naming his new project “Nulu Marketplace.”
Deljoo opened up a courtyard where a giant roof once covered the industrial work of the old Action Graphics building. It’s a concrete block building out of character with the neighborhood, tucked between historic treasures.
Deljoo says, “What we are converting is more retail on first floor, offices on the second floor and residential on the 3rd floor.”
The buildings are connected, criss-crossing from the concrete industrial to Louisville originals.
On the inside of one historic building, an old sign is still visible, painted to advertise the “Independent Dry Cleaners” there at one time.
The jewel in the crown is a carriage house on Billy Goat Strut Alley that once housed horses and carriages.
He told me it may become the city's next big brewery as he proves you can make money by restoring history, “This is more personal it's really you got to have a passion about it.”
Rick Murphy of the Nulu Business Association says their mission is to keep franchises and fast food out of Nulu. He supports the Dejoo project, “We keep this kind of fun atmosphere that’s been typical of Nulu for 20 years.”
Look up and you'll see 100-year-old ceilings.
Dejoo reopened breezeways between buildings that had been covered.
He reflected back and told me, it really all goes back to the name of the street, “This used to be the marketplace. The name of the street Market Street. They had the old market in front of the buildings. That’s why this street is much wider.”
“Nulu Marketplace” is set to open with a big Halloween party in October.