Luxury Moments
Kimberly Rankin has a habit of signing up her husband, Demetrius, for all kinds of new adventures. Her latest one might be the most ambitious yet. In the spring of 2025, the Rankins launched The LUXE Cart Co., a luxury mobile bar and cart rental company dedicated to turning everyday moments into extrao
rdinary experiences. Specializing in elegant, photo-worthy dry-hire rentals, their carts elevate weddings, client-appreciation parties, showers and backyard gatherings with sophistication and ease.
A real estate broker by trade, Kimberly originally came up with the idea as a way to reward past clients and stand out in Louisville’s competitive market. What started as a thoughtful client-appreciation gesture quickly gained traction and grew into its own business.
“There are so many real estate agents in Louisville, so I wanted to stand out,” Kimberly says. “I started having parties on different holidays, so I got these carts to give back to my past clients. They were a hit, and it started to become its own business.”
The LUXE Cart currently offers three signature options available for rentals. The LUXE Mobile Tap Bar can serve up to four different drinks (beer, wine, cocktails, cold brew, kombucha or lemonade) straight from taps, while the LUXE Champagne Cart is for elegant bottle service. The LUXE Champagne Wall is a statement-making display that holds 40 glasses in a stylish, photo-worthy way.
The carts have been used throughout Louisville, from events on the waterfront to corporate parties and milestone celebrations. The LUXE Cart primarily serves Louisville and southern Indiana but will travel further depending on the event.
The Mobile Tap Bar was built by a company in Virginia, with Kimberly and Demetrius driving to pick it up. The Champagne Wall and Cart were created locally, and Kimberly had a hand in their design. All three can be customized for different events to match customers’ wishes.
“They’re mostly used for weddings and events like that, so I like the clean, white colors,” Kimberly says. “It’s something that can serve lots of different purposes with one style. I ask customers what their theme is. I have fake flowers and other decorations I can put on top of the cart if they want to make it fit their event perfectly.”
While the Rankins do not supply the alcohol, they partner with local vendors and can provide recommendations. The LUXE Cart team handles all setup and takedown, and they can arrange certified bartenders/servers upon request to keep events running smoothly. Cold drinks (including nonalcoholic options) work especially well in the tap bar.
“It can be a bit of a cost savings for these events because everything is already put together,” Demetrius says. “Your wait time to be served is a lot quicker when you have four mobile taps rather than a bartender mixing drinks and taking one or two orders at a time. As long as you have an event with 20 people or more, the mobile tap bar works very well. The champagne cart, on the other hand, can feel more intimate.”
Kimberly typically manages bookings and marketing, while Demetrius is the “muscle” who handles transportation and keg setup. The couple has already learned a lot about operating the business while balancing two full-time careers and four children.
“For the most part, it is just the two of us,” Demetrius says. “Some of it depends on our schedules, trying to juggle our jobs and family while making this successful. That plays into it logistically.”
Both Kimberly and Demetrius agree it’s been a fun experience working together and being part of their customers’ memorable events.
“I’m a very social person when it comes to real estate,” Kimberly says. “I network all the time and enjoy meeting new people. Usually when we are doing this, people are happy. In real estate, sometimes it’s not so happy. It’s always a fun event, and people are in a good mood because they’re celebrating a milestone of some kind.”
“It makes you feel good when you have lots of people thanking you for being there,” Demetrius says. “They’re taking pictures with the cart and sharing them on social media. You’re there for multiple hours, but it goes so fast because people are always coming up to talk to me. I like to troubleshoot and think about what we can do to improve the experience next time. I don’t think we’ll quit our jobs, but it’ll be something fun we can do together and share with other people.”
Long term, The LUXE Cart Co. plans to hire additional help to expand bookings and is considering a second mobile cart — perhaps one focused on coffee service rather than alcohol. The Rankins also hope to pass the business on to their daughter, who already joins them at events and is learning the ropes alongside them.
“Our goal is to help our daughter,” Kimberly says. “I’m training her to be our partner. A lot of these events could be for people her age. She knows a lot of people in the city as well. Demetrius and I are not going to be doing parties until midnight the rest of our lives, but we want something to leave to our kids — a business that is already set up that they can take over.”
For more information on The LUXE Cart Co. and how to book, check out its website at theluxecartco.org, call 502-802-8495 or email theluxecartco@gmail.com.
