Molly Malone's Louisville and Covington locations listed for sale

Overview

Updated Yesterday

Molly Malone's, the Irish pub on Baxter Avenue that has drawn St. Patrick's Day crowds since 1998, is for sale along with its Covington location. The owners say both restaurants will stay open while the Grisanti Group markets the properties.

The listing puts a 28-year-old Louisville gathering place into a sale process that could end with a new operator, a redevelopment, or no deal at all. It also follows another long-held Louisville restaurant property, Kingfish, onto the market.

Why it matters

The sale tests whether a 28-year-old St. Patrick's Day anchor can change owners without closing.

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Key Indicators

Molly Malone's locations for sale

Louisville and Covington properties are both on the market.

1998

Year Louisville location opened

The Baxter Avenue restaurant has operated since 1998.

28 years

Louisville location's tenure

Opened in 1998, the restaurant has operated for 28 years as of 2026.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Paul Grisanti

Real estate agent, Grisanti Group

Marketing the Molly Malone's properties

Craig Collins

Louisville commercial real estate agent

Helping sell Kingfish; commented on restaurant scene

Organizations Involved

Molly Malone's

Irish restaurant

For sale; open during sale process

Irish pub with locations in Louisville's Highlands and Covington, Kentucky.

Grisanti Group

Real estate firm

Marketing the Molly Malone's properties

Louisville real estate group handling the Molly Malone's sale listings.

Kingfish

Restaurant

For sale; open

Well-known Louisville restaurant property also on the market.

Timeline

1998 November 2026

2 events Latest: Yesterday

November 2026
Molly Malone's Louisville and Covington properties listed for sale
Latest Sale listing

Grisanti Group confirms owners are selling both properties; restaurants remain open.
Yesterday
1998
Molly Malone's opens on Baxter Avenue
Opening

The Irish restaurant begins operating in Louisville's Highlands.
1998

Scenarios

Molly Malone's sells and stays open under new owner

Possible Resolves by Nov 6, 2027

Discussed by: WHAS11 reporting and Grisanti Group statements

The owners have listed both properties but say the restaurants are not closing and have events booked. A buyer could purchase the business or property and keep the Irish pub operating.

Buyer purchases Molly Malone's property and closes or redevelops it

Possible Resolves by Nov 6, 2027

Discussed by: Commercial real estate agents cited by WHAS11

Craig Collins said owners of another Louisville restaurant property were looking for a group to refresh the concept or redevelop the property. A similar buyer for Molly Malone's could change the use of the site.

No sale announced; Molly Malone's remains open

Possible Resolves by Nov 6, 2027

Discussed by: WHAS11 reporting

The owners say the restaurants will remain open during the sale process. If no buyer meets their terms, the properties could stay listed and the restaurants could keep operating.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1998

Molly Malone's opening (1998)

Molly Malone's opened on Baxter Avenue in Louisville's Highlands. The Irish restaurant became a gathering spot during the city's St. Patrick's Day parade, with thousands lining the sidewalks outside.

Then

It established a long-running presence in a corridor where neighboring restaurant spaces have changed hands.

Now

By 2026, the Louisville and Covington properties were listed for sale while the restaurants stayed open.

Why this matters now

The sale puts a 28-year-old neighborhood institution into an ownership transition.

November 2026

Kingfish sale listing (2026)

Louisville commercial real estate agent Craig Collins was helping sell Kingfish, another well-known restaurant property. He said its owners had held their properties for 50 years and wanted to retire.

Then

Kingfish remained open while the owners looked for a buyer.

Now

The listing showed another long-held Louisville restaurant property entering the market.

Why this matters now

It gives a local comparison for how owners are approaching exits from established restaurants.

as of November 2026

Highlands restaurant turnover (as of 2026)

WHAS11 reported that the space now housing Palermo's Italian Restaurant was a taco restaurant a few years earlier. Hopcat was followed by Bakersfield, and that space was still for sale.

Then

The examples showed turnover among nearby restaurant spaces.

Now

Molly Malone's had outlasted several neighbors.

Why this matters now

The sale tests whether it can also outlast a change in ownership.