LOUISVILLE, Ky. — PG&J’s Dog Park Bar brings socializing to a whole new level because the entire venue allows dogs off-leash, inside and out.
“I’ll probably be like Norm on Cheers. I’ll probably just be sitting here at the corner,” laughed Kelly Eggleton, who brought her dog Bessie Lee to PG&J’s opening day Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s particularly exciting for me because I have a health condition that limits my exposure to heat. So in the summer it’s a little bit more difficult for me to ensure that my dog gets enough exercise and socialization and outdoor time,” said Eggleton, who is excited she can hang out and have a drink in an air-conditioned bar while her Bluetick Coonhound runs around off-leash.
Owner Gina Nobles originally wanted PG&J’s to open in fall 2019 but issues like finding the right team and finances pushed its opening back to spring 2020, and then the pandemic hit.
“But you just have to keep moving forward. That’s what I kept telling my team. We just move forward. You can’t stop,” Nobles said.
She didn’t stop but had to jump hurdles along the way, mainly with construction.
“You don’t think about supply chain issues when it comes to construction materials because the construction world didn’t really slow down. It’s just the materials and things that were needed and then the price jump,” Nobles said.
She added that COVID-19 also affected the workflow due to the construction workers and sub-contractors contracting the virus.
“So their whole team has to take two weeks off so there’s a whole host of issues that came with the pandemic, not just shutting down at the state or city level,” Nobles said.
When it was time to get the permits, Nobles said there was a shortage of electrical inspectors.
However, in the end, she said the delays were a blessing.
“We are opening at a time where people are ready for something new. We have the perfect space. We have 12,000 square-feet so people can safely distance. The dogs can run around,” Nobles told Spectrum News 1.
Anyone 21 and up is welcome to PG&J’s, but dogs have to be members. Membership costs anywhere from $10 a day to just under $250 for the year.
Dogs also must be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and wear tags, among other rules. Every patron must sign a waiver to enter the bar regardless if they have a dog or not.
There is no food served at the venue and Nobles also said there are “Bark Rangers” that walk around inside and out to make sure that dogs are playing safely.
“But that doesn’t mean that we babysit your dogs,” Nobles said. “The expectation is that you are responsible for your dog while you are here.”
Currently, there are 113 annual members, including Bessie Lee. Eggleton said she plans to bring her dog two to three times a week.
“Just get em’ out of the house. Just get everybody out of the house,” she said.
PG&J’s is located at 800 Baxter Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204. It's open Tuesday through Sunday.
A portion of all sales goes to partner rescue agencies. Nobles said the goal is to donate a total of $25,000 a year.