Venezuelan restaurant to take over Taco Luchador's original location in the Highlands

Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal

Updated Wed, January 10, 2024 at 10:23 AM UTC

2 min read

Patrons leave the Taco Luchador on Baxter Ave. just south of Broadway in Louisville, Ky. on Sep. 20, 2021. There is a proposal to close off this stretch of road to vehicles on the weekend.

Taco Luchador's longtime location in the Highlands closed less than two weeks ago, but the Baxter Avenue spot will soon serve customers again.

Señora Arepa , a Venezuelan restaurant with another location in St. Matthews, will take over the former home of Taco Luchador. Both restaurant concepts are owned by Olé Restaurant Group.

The decision to turn the taco shop into the second Señora Arepa comes after a rising number of taco joints have opened in the Highlands, according to Rick Moir, the group's managing partner.

"We wanted to bring our other concept there and maybe draw some of the crowd we used to have in NuLu," Moir told the Courier Journal. "We wanted to bring something different to the area."

Senora Arepa, a restaurant serving Venezuelan food, moved from its original location in Nulu to a bigger space in St. Matthews. The new digs come with a patio full of decorations, such as a 15-foot bull covered in faux grass.

In August, Señora Arepa moved from its original location at 721 E. Market St. to a larger space at 117 St. Matthews Ave.

"We've done great so far at St. Matthews," Moir said. "We've seen a lot of support for it."

Arepas, seared corn cakes with any number of fillings, are the centerpiece of the eatery's offerings, though many other Venezuelan sandwiches, salads, entrees and desserts round out the menu.

After some renovations, the Venezuelan eatery is expected to open at 928 Baxter Ave. in February.

It will be the latest chapter for the little house near the intersection of Baxter and Morton avenues. Taco Luchador launched there in 2014 as a tiny taco joint with six tables.

"Originally, it was a really small place," Moir said. "You couldn't walk in or out without smelling like a fryer."

Arepa Pabelln with sweet plantain, black beans, queso and Llanero Carne Mechado at Senora Arepa in Louisville.

A few years later, the restaurant expanded to include more dining space, a bar area, and a patio. The local taco chain grew to have four locations as of early 2023. Two of those locations remain, including 112 Meridian Ave. in St. Matthews and 10305 Taylorsville Road in Jeffersontown.

The Jeffersontown property was recently listed for sale for $1.25 million . Moir said the "game plan" is for that property to continue as a Taco Luchador.

Reach food reporter Amanda Hancock at ahancock@courier-journal.com .

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Señora Arepa to open in former Taco Luchador location in the Highlands

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