Merely days ago, the sad and confusing news that Avalon was closed rocked the food world in Louisville. The popular Bardstown Road eatery was closed "due to unforeseen circumstances" without warning. Their website and twitter feed remain open, as does the adjacent Luna Boutique (though the Boutique has announced a 50% off sale on EVERYTHING in store, which makes one wonder). This came as a shock to many people; since the restaurant has seemed to pick up steam over the past few months, and the attractive patio is almost always teeming whenever this reporter passes.
Steve Clements, the owner of Avalon and Luna and the operator of Clements Catering, had been employed with the Kentucky Derby Museum catering for their events. Clements was let go last week, right before the mysterious closing of Avalon. Now comes the news that the Kentucky Derby Museum has filed a lawsuit against Steve Clements.
The Kentucky Derby Museum cites "unresolved conflicts" in their statement regarding the lawsuit. There has been speculation that this dispute has to do with Clements allegedly defrauding the Kentucky Derby Museum for the last few years through, shall we say, creative accounting, but at this point neither party has made a statement as to these allegations, though the Museum is asking for compensation AND punitive damages.
photo: Elizabeth Orrick
