HEREABOUTS lynn minneman
“If this was any closer, we would be here every night,” was my husband’s initial comment upon leaving the Brookville Grille at 428 Wolfcreek St.
It all started four years ago when Brookville residents Mark Porter and Jeff VanBrederode, friends of 15 years, decided a diner-style restaurant would be a “good thing.”
“We have been friends for a long time and we met as antique dealers in Lawrenceburg, Ind.,” said Porter. “Antiques led to food concessions, and that led to this.”
“This” is a novelty-style restaurant tucked into the Brookville Plaza and Shopping Center. It is complete with an old-fashioned diner counter purchased by the owners off eBay!
The owners said the counter was originally made in 1936 by Bastian Blessing Soda Fountain Company in Chicago and salvaged from Hook’s Drug Store in Layfayette, Ind., that closed in the 1970s.
There is also an old-fashioned juke box on the premises with a warning on the menu: “Songs may not play in order selected due to the ‘mechanical nature’ of the machine.”
The food would make anyone’s mouth water. The grille runs specials daily and the night we indulged it was a 6-ounce filet, four golden shrimp with roasted raspberry cocktail sauce, choice of potato, salad and a roll for only $9.99.
Signs and pictures on the wall are original, dating to the 1930s and 1950s. The restaurant offers free Wi-Fi; Internet service is available.
The establishment is not open Sundays, as the menu explains: “While we appreciate everyone’s interest — we have decided to utilize this day as it was originally intended ... as a day of praise and worship, rest, and an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. Please join us in this endeavor by visiting a local church of your choice this Sunday.”
Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The menu says there are Friday and Saturday night specials, so hurry.
Contact this columnist at (937) 609-4152 or newscommunity @hotmail.com.
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