LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dozens of people on Broadway are still selling their dinners and products the day before Derby. The event is known as 'Derby City Cruising' in west Louisville.
During the 80's and early 2000's on Derby eve, Broadway was the place to be.
"Back-to-back cars; everywhere, music," said Charlene Humphrey, owner of S&S BBQ and Seafood.
From the food being cooked on the grills to the flashy cars, Derby City Cruising was a beloved tradition.
This year, Humphrey continued the tradition with her family.
She sold ribs, smoked sausage, hamburgers and fish dinners through her catering business.
"Churchill Downs is Churchill Downs, Derby Cruising is for us in the west end so start up businesses like myself can get our names out there," Humphrey said.
Crowds may not be as large as they used to be, but over the years, safety has remained a top concern.
"We acted right, it would come back," Humphrey said.
Bennie Britt was also selling dinners down the street.
He said the cruising kind of stopped over the last decade. But he remembered how fun it used to be.
"You can meet somebody, 'hey what's your name,' it was a good time and then people came from out of town," Britt said.
He has been out selling dinners since Thursday afternoon. Britt remained dedicated despite the rainy day on Friday.
"It's not the crowd we could probably triple our money if it was," he said. "But now we can still make something, it's better than just a regular Friday."
On the corner of 24th and Broadway is Latoya Duncan. Her grandmother was known in the community as 'Ms. Syl' and owned Syl's Lounge.
Now Duncan is taking on her legacy this Derby by selling food.
"So as her granddaughter we decided to take this over in her honor," she said.
Duncan and Beverly Sartin remembered how people looked forward to this day to make money.
"It was safe and wonderful it's kind of sad that it is not happening anymore," said Sartin.
But they remained hopeful Derby City Cruising would come back, one day.
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