As LEO Weekly’s parent company, Big Lou Holdings, LLC, advertises another of its citywide food weeks, Louisville Taco Week, restaurants and taco fans prepare for a week of $3.00 deals and the promise of adventure from participating with the app.
There is one big issue.
The app no longer functions for Louisville Food Weeks. It is also unavailable for download.
The food weeks were originally started by Tony Frank (formerly of CityBeat in Cincinnati), and began as a great way to pair business, fundraising, and fun for the community. When Frank left Big Lou Holdings in 2025, the Louisville Food Weeks fell under the care of Keating and his Big Lou Holdings, LLC.
Debts In Bad Faith
On February 25, an email was sent to Louisville Independent that the food week app developer had not been paid by Keating and that, despite the app being disabled, Keating was still advertising the food weeks with the app included.
“We provided a license for our event week app to LEO Weekly for use during all of their theme weeks,” said Ian Bolender, of Patchboard.
“We work with several organizations around the country on events like this and have been very fortunate to develop strong relationships with many organizations that do these events very well.
“Unfortunately, we had no choice but to terminate all agreements with LEO Weekly and hire a collection agency. It appears that they continue to promote these apps, all of which have been unpublished from the App Stores for several months. We are walking a fine line between staying out of the fray, while making sure restaurants don’t continue to be swindled.”
Those who currently have the app will find a message stating that the app will no longer be part of these food week events. This has caused some hiccups for customers and business owners.
Louisville Tourism was an early adopter and supporting sponsor of Louisville Hot Brown Week. During this year’s Louisville Restaurant Week, Louisville Tourism decided to end its initial sponsorship because the app was unavailable.
“It was simply, there’s no app, so we’re not gonna move forward with this promotion anymore,” Stacey Yates, Chief Marketing Officer at Louisville Tourism.
Outside of the food weeks, Keating has left other local restaurants frustrated and angry.
Andrew Masterson, co-owner of Captain’s Quarter, posted on the Louisville Independent’s story about Big Lou Holdings’ lack of a state business license. Masterson said that Keating owed his business $5000 and had promised to pay, but had not delivered.
“Each year we’ve done it, it’s pretty demanding on our staff as far as what we have to set up, and what we have to provide and manage, and parking,” said Masterson in a phone call with Louisville Independent. “Each year, we have been charging them a little bit more, and they keep griping a little bit more about how much we’re charging.
“He [Keating] kept saying, ‘You know, we’re giving you all this coverage, and we’re bringing all these people there that stay and spend money,’ but they don’t. They come in, and they drink the margaritas, and they leave.”
Captain’s Quarter’s relationship with LEO Weekly goes back 10 years or so as the host site for the annual Margarita’s In The Ville event. The event was last held in 2024, and the invoice for that event went unpaid.
“They started griping about how much we charged. And I said, ‘Listen, if we’re gonna host it this year in August of 2025, because you’re so slow at paying, we’re six months behind now from when the event was. I need a down payment.
“They basically said, ‘We’re not, we’re not gonna do that, but we will pay you for last year.’ And I said, ‘Fine.’ After about a month of them not paying and telling me that they were gonna pay, I finally said, ‘Listen, we’re not gonna host this year, period.'”
The event was ultimately canceled in 2025 as payment issues with Keating are ongoing, and Captain’s Quarters has yet to receive any payment from the 2024 event.
Masterson has considered legal action.
Within the last few weeks, several of LEO’s writers have shared on social media that they have yet to be paid by LEO Weekly for work they’ve done for the publication.
LEO also canceled their “United We Brunch” event with Mellwood Arts Center, citing local businesses pulling out of the event, a Mellwood Arts staff member told Louisville Independent. This was the second cancellation for this event.
Louisville Independent reached out to Keating about these situations and asked if LEO was at risk and if any sale of the publication might be imminent.
In a couple of emails, Keating said, “I’m unaware of monies owed to any business. LEO is [not] for sale, and I’m moving to a Louisville… will be locally owned. I love LEO and happy we added a Social Media Editor, and looking for more hires.”
Louisville Independent sought clarity on the sale and Keating’s “moving to Louisville” comment.
“LEO is not for sale,” said Keating. “No quotes on ‘moving’. Local ownership!
“Local ownership does not indicate there will or will not be success. I believe LEO has had local ownership in the past, where it did not ultimately have a bearing on success. You know better than I, as it’s before my time. With an amazing and growing team, we remain optimistic about LEO’s future. BUT, we aren’t immune to the challenges in our industry in general, as well as the economic headwinds all small business are facing. I have no idea on any businesses owed any money as we have very few expenses.”
He added that anyone owed money could reach out to him for payment.
Both Masterson and Bolender have continued to seek payment.
Payment Due
Beyond Louisville, Chris Keating and Big Lou Holdings, LLC are involved in several large lawsuits across several states, involving non-payment and breach of contract.
Louisville Independent reported about a previous case involving the sale of Sauce Magazine in St. Louis, where Keating failed to honor the terms of the agreement and was ordered to pay over $168,000 within 30 days of the judge’s order.
There are four other lawsuits in St. Louis involving two banking companies, SOFI, and Bank of America, one involving a $6000/mo. office property at Fair Mercantile Center, where Keating failed to pay rent for over 90 days, and yet another from a company doing business as Earthday 365.
In all the cases above, rulings have been made in favor of the Plaintiff, meaning Keating and Big Lou Holdings have been ordered to pay.
In the recent Sauce magazine case, Keating failed to meet the 30-day deadline causing a garnishment to be filed and fulfilled against his assets.
This month, in Michigan, a publishing company called Michigan Web Press filed a Breach of Contract petition against Big Lou Holdings and Keating for the sum of $60,800.81 plus court costs and attorney fees.
With mounting legal costs for Keating and Big Lou Holdings, the outlook for LEO Weekly, and the company’s other outlet, Detroit Metro Times in Michigan, is unclear. And, as another food week, Louisville Taco Week, is just around the corner, will patrons and businesses get what they are paying for?
Louisville Independent will continue to follow the developments.
