The Cottage Inn

Postcards: 4"x6" - color OR original line drawing
Prints: 8.5"x11" - black and white line drawing

For nearly a century, The Cottage Inn served up classic Southern comfort food - country fried chicken, burgers, pork chops, Kentucky Hot Browns, assorted cakes and cobblers, and a plethora of classic sides and hearty daily specials. Known for its cozy stone interior, oilclothed tables, and relaxing family vibe, The Cottage Inn was a fixture for the surrounding area, providing a familiar third space for St Joseph’s staff, church congregations, U of L students and faculty, and locals alike.

Opened in 1929 as a deli, serving staff and patrons of the newly built St. Joseph’s Infirmary down Eastern Parkway, The Cottage Inn played an integral role in the area since it first started slinging sandwiches. Over the subsequent decades, the deli transformed into a full-blown restaurant, making it possible to feed even more mouths in the evergrowing community surrounding it. In 1998, owner Clifford Meadows got the spotlight after foiling a nearby bank robbery, when he took matters into his own hands to help stop a thief. This turned him and the old stone cottage restaurant into part of local legend, further cementing their loyalty to the community.

The Cottage Inn closed permanently in May 2025, with a new restaurant going by the name of Parkway Diner moving in. Over the almost 100 years of its operation, The Cottage Inn showed dedication to its homestyle roots and generations of patrons, preserving its mission to serve hearty dishes at accessible prices.