St Matthews

St. Matthews
 
The incredibly sought-after St. Matthews area is ideally situated in the heart of Louisville’s quintessential East End. It’s historic homes and buildings offer a sense of a small suburban neighborhood immersed with shopping, restaurants, parks, schools, churches, and culture. This safe, quiet, park like residential and commercial nook just eight miles east of downtown Louisville make it an ideal community for first time home buyers needing a quick commute to jobs or families looking for a central, convenient spot to plant their roots. St. Matthews can best be described as cool yet classic! The styles of homes vary as much as its eccentric occupants, from charming cape cods to sprawling luxury manors. St. Matthews is a peaceful neighborhood with mature trees and sidewalks, but a short walk can lead residents to the Shelbyville Road shops and restaurants or hop on the highway to reach all the best downtown Louisville attractions.
 
History
 
First settled in 1779 this section of town owes its widespread popularity to the Great Flood of 1937, when hordes of people came to the higher grounds of St. Matthews. People often refer to St. Matthews as “Louisville’s Neighborhood,” because of its well-known notoriety but on the contrary it is actually a city that encompasses more than 50 distinctive subdivisions and smaller neighborhoods, each with their own character and appeal. St. Matthews prides itself as its own city, with its own mayor and emergency services serving its population of approximately 2,000. 
 
Neighborhoods
 
·         Arlington: Traditional and Cape Cod homes, starting at $150,000, near Browns & Hubbards lanes.
·         Bellewood: Older, well-kept estates, starting at $400,000, near Browns Lane and Shelbyville Road.
·         Broadfields: An older subdivision, starting in the upper $200s, between Breckenridge Lane and Cannons Lane.
·         Cherokee Gardens: Classic Tudor style homes, from $350K to $1 million, south of Lexington and North of the 64.
·         Fairmeade: Post-war homes, starting at $200K, down Fairmeade Road, of bustling Shelbyville Road.
·         Indian Hills: A grand old neighborhood along the Ohio River, with fine mansions upwards of $1 Million.
·         Mockingbird Gardens: A newer subdivisions, ranging from $550K - $2 Million, near Crescent Hill Golf Course.
·         Norbourne Estates: Spacious, modernized homes, starting at $250,000, between Browns & Breckenridge lanes.
·         Oxmoor Woods: Stately manors, approaching $1 million, centrally located near Oxmoor Mall and the highways.
·         Plymouth Village: A diverse mix of homes, from $75,000 to $750,000, between Hillsboro and Prince William.
·         Richlawn: A charming older subdivision, ranging from $150K - $300K, between Route 60 and Ledyard Rd.
·         Seneca Gardens: Large historic properties, from $400,000 to $1 million, offering Seneca golf course access.
·         Springlee: Cozy, maintained bungalows selling like hotcakes, starting at $199,000, near Hillsboro and Brownlee

What to Expect
 
Architectural styles are widely diverse including post war shot guns, bungalows, ranches, cape cods, traditional foursquares, and colonials. Everyone is welcome in St. Matthews and the homes emulate this way of thinking. It is considered a “close-in community that bridges the city and suburbs,” here you will find all walks of life! St. Matthews offers a good mix of older folks, working professionals, young families, and college students. Like The Highlands, St. Matthews has a reputation for being a “hip” place to live that is very forward-thinking and inclusive of all lifestyles. 
 
The real estate stock in St. Matthews represents every single spectrum imaginable. No budget is excluded, with starter homes for less than $200,000, next to new construction homes well over $1 million. 
 
What to do
 
Popular among foodies, diners broadly consider St. Matthews to be a desirable destination to grab a bite to eat. Here you’ll find everything your palate and heart desire:
 
·         Anoosh Bistro – Refined American eatery
·         Bombay Grill – North and South Indian food
·         Charim - Korean cuisine
·         Cheddar Box Too – Brunch food
·         Coals - Artisan Pizza
·         Equus & Jack’s Lounge - Upscale American & Bourbon
·         Gasthaus – German cuisine
·         Gerstles- Longtime spot for live blues, rock & cover bands, with a full bar, pub fare 
·         Havana Rumba – Cuban cuisine
·         Heine Brothers – The place for coffee
·         Homemade Pie and Ice Cream Kitchen – Cold treats
·         Lonnie’s Best Taste of Chicago – Gyros and hotdogs
·         Mesh- Contemporary American fare & cocktails
·         Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ – KC Barbecue
·         NamNam Café- Family-owned Vietnamese cuisine
·         Oriental House – Hunan and Sichuan specialties
·         Shady Lane Café – Family oriented brunch
·         Silvio’s –Italian fine dining
·         Simply Thai – Asian food
·         Steel City Pops- gourmet, brightly colored, all-natural popsicles
·         The Ville Taqueria – Mexican cuisine
·         Wild Eggs – Brunch spot
 
From May through October, the St. Matthews Farmers Market at Beargrass Christian Church is the place to be on Saturday mornings! Readers of Edible Louisville rated the St. Matthews Farmers Market the best in all of Louisville. You’ll find baked goods, wine, cheese, blueberries, root vegetables, apples, and coffee, as well as locally handmade pottery, soap, glass, and jewelry.
 
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention St. Matthews as one of the best sections of Louisville for shopping, with more than 180 major retailers. Cinemark, Dillard’s, and Forever 21 anchor the Mall St. Matthews ; while Dick’s Sporting Goods, Macy’s, Apple, and Von Maur anchor the Oxmoor Mall, conveniently located just down Shelbyville Road off the Watterson Expressway. Any store you could imagine – American Eagle, Aveda, Coach, Kate Spade, Disney, Madewell, Old Navy, H&M, Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Sephora – it’s all here.
 
If box stores aren’t what you’re looking for St. Matthews is hub to many of the city’s best local businesses. You can find great gently-loved clothes and home décor at Stella’s Resale Boutique on Wallace Avenue, unique gifts for gals at Colonial Designs, fresh fruit, produce and snacks at Paul’s Fruit Market, interior design items at Fleur De Lis or Digs in Chenoweth Square, fresh flowers at St. Matthews Feed and Seed, children’s clothes at Animal Crackers and women’s clothes at Circe and Monkees on Brownsboro Road
 
Education
 
The local schools in St. Matthews are fantastic. Most people living in St. Matthews have a commute to work that is 15 minutes or less and most schools are walking distance or less than 1.5 miles from homes  freeing up time to go running over the creek-crossing bridges and woodlands of Arthur K. Draught Park, put a few rounds in at Big Spring, shoot hoops at Warwick Park, or picnic at Brown Park.

Elementary Schools

·         Chenoweth Elementary
·         Dunn Elementary
·         Holy Trinity
·         Holy Spirit
·         Our Lady of Lourdes
·         St. Matthews Elementary
·         Walden School
 
High Schools
 
·         Sacred Heart
·         Trinity
·         Waggner