You don’t have to travel far for a relaxing summer outing — just spend an afternoon in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, affectionately known as J-town. This vibrant, independent city is located in the southeastern part of Jefferson County within the Louisville Metro area. With its population of 30,000, J-town offers a small-town feel near a major metro area.
Incorporated in 1797, Jeffersontown was named after then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson. According to Beth Wilder, director of the Jeffersontown Historical Museum, J-town was a convenient resting place for travelers and traders during the 1770s on their way to what would become the port city of Louisville. The crossroads that would become the town center became home to taverns, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and hotels to serve the needs of travelers before they continued on their way.
In modern times, this charming area is packed with character and serves as a cute, walkable downtown hub with local restaurants, shops, and businesses.
The heart of J-town can be found at the intersection of Watterson Trail and Taylorsville Road. The area that fans out from this spot is known as the Gaslight Square District, so named to commemorate its history as the first town in Kentucky to have gas streetlights.
A first stop at Quills Coffee will give just the fuel you need to start your day. Quills is housed in a renovated historic bank with industrial charm and plenty of seating, including an upstairs loft. The working bank vault door behind the barista counter is a favorite source of conversation among visitors. quillscoffee.com
The Gaslight Diner, locally owned and operated by the Croghan family in a historical 1915 building, is located next door to Quills. It opens at 7am daily serving breakfast and lunch, and it offers dinner and a full bar Thursdays through Saturdays in a classic diner atmosphere decorated with local memorabilia and television screens. gaslightdinerky.com
Wander on down the block and into locally owned J-Town Hardware and Rental. Note the changing marquis sign with its clever sayings. J-town Hardware was founded in 1938 and is locally owned by Brad and Jennifer Carson since 2015 (Brad worked here in high school!). The store is a fun place to stop in for basic hardware needs as well as paint, outdoor grilling supplies, furniture, and flowers. You’ll also find post office services, a spot for a relaxing checkers game, and of course, the requisite hardware store free popcorn. The warm community feeling was evident in the greeting I heard… “Y’all doing alright?” jtownhardwareandrental.com
Step into A Novel Romance, a bookstore featuring a different romance genre in every room, from historical to sports to young adult to contemporary. You will find owner Jonlyn Scrogham behind the counter and happy to recommend your next love story. anovelromance.com
Other Great Places & Happenings
The new Jeffersontown Amphitheater, which opened just this year, is a welcoming open-air gathering place for live music, celebrations, and more. The free J-Town Summer Concert Series will be taking place every second Thursday of the month from June through September. The first ever J-Town “Stars & Stripes” Fest will be on July 3-4 to celebrate America’s 250 years. jtownamphitheater.com/
The weekly farmers’ market is held every Saturday morning from 8am to noon through October 31 at the Farmers’ Market Pavilion (10434 Watterson Trail.)
Gaslight on the Go! Trolley Hop is the last Friday of the month through August from 7-10pm. This is a great way to explore the Historic Gaslight District.
Story and photos by Patti Hartog
P.S. See another one of Patti’s suggested areas here.
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