Mike Linnig’s Restaurant reopens for 98th season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (DERBY CITY WEEKEND) – A long-running Louisville restaurant reopened for its 98th season in time for lunch on Thursday.

MIke Linnig’s Restaurant, located on 9308 Cane Run Road, held their opening day welcoming customers back with plenty of fried fish.

Operating since 1925, the family-owned restaurant located near the Ohio River runs on a seasonal schedule, opening each year in mid-January after closing for November and December.

The annual reopening has become a tradition for loyal diners.

A 35-year customer, Sam Knopp now gathers friends from Campbellsville to come up for opening day.

“And we started, what? About 3 or 4 years ago, trying to come up here on the very opening day,” Knopp said. “And we actually come closing day.”

A business having endured fires and floods, the current Linnig generation of owners has added a pandemic to their list of business challenges.

“The fire, you would’ve been over within a few months,” co-owner Bill Linnig said. “So this has been going on and going on. It’s kind of like lingering.”

This year’s opening was delayed as a precaution to the recent COVID surge to keep employees and customers safe, the restaurant announced on Jan. 13.

COVID-induced supply chain issues also constantly impact the menu. Fish is 25 to 30 percent more expensive than last year, Linnig said.

Employee shortages also force the owners to work some very long hours.

Linnig, however, considers himself lucky.

“We’re pretty tough,” he said. “You’ve just got to be tough. You just got keep on going, doing what you got to do. So when it comes time, you say, ‘Well ok, you’re going to have to work 75 hours a week and not have a day off.’ Well, that’s what you do.”

Mike Linnig’s is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit Mike Linnig’s website.