St. Matthews Louisville Neighborhood Profile

Originally a suburb of Louisville, St. Matthews was annexed into the city of Louisville as a result of the Louisville/Jefferson County merger in 2003. St. Matthews is Louisville’s largest shopping district – two malls as well as one of every chain store in Louisville can be found on Shelbyville Road.

St. Matthews Boundaries:

St. Matthews’ boundaries are Cannons Lane to the west, I-264 to the south and east, and Brownsboro Road to the north, though a few neighborhoods just north of Brownsboro Road are also considered part of St. Matthews.

St. Matthews History:

St. Matthews was first settled in 1779 by Colonel John Floyd. Floyd had purchased the 2,000 acres of land that would later become St. Matthews from soldiers who had been awarded the land for their service in the French and Indian War. It wasn’t until the city began developing a shopping center there in the 1920s that St. Matthews started to become less rural. Growth of the area was expedited by Louisville’s flood of 1937, when individuals started looking to build their homes on higher ground.

St. Matthews Demographics:

Individuals living in Louisville’s East End typically have the highest median ages and incomes in the city. However, much of St. Matthews has recently had apartments built on it, lowering the average age of the area considerably. In fact, 35% of the population of St. Matthews is between the ages of 25 and 44. Many young professionals and recent college graduates choose to live in East End apartments because they are better-kept than many of the apartment complexes in other parts of Louisville.

St. Matthews Real Estate:

The average value of a home in St. Matthews is $150,000. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment is between $600 and $800.

Nightlife:

The St. Matthews neighborhood is better known as a shopping and dining district than it is a nightlife district. In fact, many residents of the St. Matthews neighborhood find themselves in Crescent Hill or The Highlands when they’re looking for a night on the town. Most of the sit down restaurants in St. Matthews have a bar, though these establishments are rarely open after 11pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends. One exception is the Bluegrass Brewing Company. BBC brews its own beers and offers a variety of tasty bar food.

St. Matthews has the largest commercial shopping district in Louisville. It is the home of two of Louisville’s largest malls as well as one of every chain store in Louisville. Some of the most popular St. Matthews shopping facilities are:

• The Mall St. Matthews – The Mall St. Matthews was Louisville’s first true indoor mall. Located at 5000 Shelbyville Road, the 1.1 million square foot mall has more than 130 stores, including Aeropostale, Ann Taylor Loft, Arhaus, Aveda, bebe, Brooks Brothers, Brookstone, Harold's, J. Jill, Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma.
  
  
• Oxmoor Mall – Located at 7900 Shelbyville Road, just down from The Mall St. Matthews, Oxmoor Mall is home to more than 50 shops and restaurants, including American Eagle Outfitters, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Eddie Bauer, Gymboree, NY & Co., Old Navy, and Pottery Barn Kids.
  
  
• Shelbyville Road Plaza – The Shelbyville Road Plaza is located just at the boundary between Crescent Hill and St. Matthews. This shopping center houses stores such as Borders, Circuit City, Wild Oats, Feeder’s Supply, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, and Linens-n-Things.

In addition to the high number of chain stores located in St. Matthews, there are also a high number of chain restaurants. However, there are a few restaurants in St. Matthews that do not have multiple other locations in Louisville. Those are:

• Azalea Restaurant – Azalea’s specialties are fish and wine, though they have a diverse menu with a variety of options. Many residents insist that Azalea has the best wine menu in Louisville.
  
  
• Ice Cream Factory and Restaurant – Best known for its signature ice cream and yogurt dishes. Entrees are American cuisine and are reasonably priced.
  
  
• Meridian Café – A small, cozy restaurant that is the perfect place for an informal lunch. The menu features a variety of soups and salads, and several beer and wine options are also available.
  
  
• Napa River Grill – One of the few Louisville restaurants that serve Northern California cuisine. One of the biggest attractions of Napa River Grill is its seasonal menu that features fresh fish, steaks, pasta, and salad.