Destination Downtown

story by GLENDA WINDERS

The downtown area of every city and small town used to be where the action happened–we held festivals and parades, stopped to chat with neighbors, and purchased our goods from local merchants.

Then a couple of decades ago all of that seemed to be lost to shopping malls on the outskirts of the city that featured chain stores and were often located near a major highway. Now lots of locations throughout the state are reversing that trend–and with delightful results.

Madison, long known for its historic homes and architecture, unique shops, and dining options, just recently received the Great American Main Street Award from Main Street America, sponsored by The Hartford, which praises the city for its “welcoming culture, historic preservation, and community collaboration.” And no wonder. Over the last five years the city has recruited new businesses downtown–a nostalgic toy store, a crêperie, a kitchenware store, and a home and accessories retailer, for starters. The movement to renovate historic buildings into lofts, apartments, and rentals has encouraged downtown living and unique stays.

Meanwhile, over in Jasper the downtown area is hopping with activity, too. The square there was revitalized in 2023 and is now home to a wide variety of locally owned retail stores–fashion boutiques, a chocolate shop, and a historic hardware store in a building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The remodeled Astra theater hosts live music, comedians, and movies. Alleyways light up with art, and the Heart of Jasper hosts monthly events such as the Downtown Chowdown, Shop & Sip events, Music on Main, and Movies on Main. Within just a few blocks is the Patoka River, where the River Center, Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, Train Depot and One Room Schoolhouse are located. Last year they won an award, too–“Best IN Indiana” for their Art Loop Trail, which is currently underway.

Nearby Huntingburg claims to have the charm of a Hallmark movie when the Huntingburg Merchants Association hosts the seasonal Chocolate Stroll, Daffodil Stroll, Pumpkin Stroll, and Christmas Stroll. Market Street Park hosts the annual Garden Gate Jazz, Wine and Craft Beer Festival, and the Latino Festival, along with monthly Fourth Friday events. This is also where you’ll find the weekly farmers markets June to October. A short drive will deliver you to the stadium where “A League of Their Own” was filmed.

You know Greensburg as the town with the tree growing out of its courthouse tower, but there’s lots more to do and see here, too. While you’re walking around downtown take a peek at Art on the Square and watch for the murals on the sides of several buildings. Shop at County Supply Hardware, Baker Design Wear and A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That.

James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet, grew up in Greenfield, and his home and museum are open for tours. Just down the street is Griggsby’s Station, named for one of Riley’s poems and where the owners like to think Riley might have stopped in to eat their pasture-to-pub cuisine from time to time. Other good places to eat are Carnegie’s, which is located in a traditional library, and the Tour of Italy Café. While you’re downtown, be sure to take in the Twenty North Gallery of regional art, pick up goat’s-milk soap at Udders and Suds, take home some exquisitely crafted chocolates at J. Evelyn Confections, and take in a show at the H. J. Rick’s Centre for the Arts.

Henry County is blessed with multiple downtowns to explore and lots going on in each of them. New Castle, for example, has the goal of making downtown more livable with market-rate housing and businesses that support urban dwellers and visitors. To that end, since 2023 some 15 new businesses have opened, like the Good Co., an apothecary-style shop that carries gifts and home décor, and Maxwell’s Mercantile, an upscale boutique that hearkens back to the general stores of yesteryear. Sip and savor spots include Blue River Taphouse with highlights like seasonal slushies and gourmet hot dogs; or try Ky’s American Bistro where you can grab a quick lunch or a more decadent dinner..

Knightstown is known as Henry County’s “OG” Main Street, and the center of their downtown area is the Makers Market/pop-up shops. Here five cottages host some 20 artists and makers who then offer their pieces for sale. And in Middletown the Main Street organization achieved OCRA Downtown Affiliate Network status in February, acknowledging its work toward economic revitalization and community engagement.

Take a walk along downtown Muncie’s Walnut Street, and you’ll experience a revitalized area with historic buildings, storefronts, restaurants, arts venues, and more. So many local shops make Walnut Street home, and you can spend an entire day browsing here. Explore off Walnut and you’ll find a children’s museum, civic theatre, convention center…the list goes on. And be sure to mark your calendar for the city’s Fire Up DWNTWN, a two-day event for the whole family.

Wayne County’s Cambridge City is the quintessential charming small town, and is the hub of Antique Alley with 11 antique shops and mall within a three- block area. Like primitive barn finds? Repurposed items? Fine antiques? No problem. Whatever your taste or price range, you’re bound to come across something tempting. In addition to all the shops, downtown is filled with several dramatic murals and locally-owned restaurants, including Lumpy’s Café, whose been voted among the Top Ten in a state famous for tenderloins.

Something is always going on in Carmel, and that often means special events that inject new life into an already diverse and bustling downtown.

“Our charming Main Street is the heart of the Carmel Arts and Design District and is a prime location for our residents to gather as a community,” says Mayor Sue Finkam. “We invite everyone to enjoy the public art, shops, festivals and restaurants that make our Main Street the destination location that it is today!”

The gatherings she mentions might take the shape of Artomobilia, with owners of classic cars show off their vehicles as works of art, or the Art of Wine, where participants taste wine as they enjoy works of art. Restaurants in Carmel feature cuisines from all over the country and the world–Juniper on Main provides Southern coastal fare, Ristorante Roma satisfies your yen for classic Italian food, and Caffe Buondi offers Italian breakfasts and lunches–among many, many others.

The main streets in Boone County lure with plenty of fun, especially in the summertime. Between them, Lebanon and Zionsville celebrate the season with farmers market, a summer concert series, a street dance, a traditional Native American powwow and Augtoberfest with beer, music, and activities around the courthouse square. The courthouse square is also where you’ll find shopping, pubs, and dining.

Set against a backdrop of historic buildings and public art spaces, Kokomo’s revitalized downtown district is home to unique experiences and tastes. Boutique shopping abounds; be sure and visit Kokomo Toys & Collectibles for a retro shopping experience. Foodies will find everything from chef-inspired dining to international fare, and the city’s lineup of special events range from concerts and festivals to seasonal activities.

Crawfordsville’s history is one of the draws here. It’s possible to see of “Ben Hur” author Lew Wallace, visit the Linden Railroad Museum in the oldest intact junction depot in Indiana, and tour Victorian homes. In this walkable downtown be sure to stop in at the Athens of Indiana Arts Gallery before popping into a variety of shops for jewelry, clothing, antiques and furniture.

Downtown Lafayette is abuzz with restaurants, art galleries, museums, coffee shops, interesting architecture, shops, antiques, and nightlife. The city is home to three districts that each offer something different and are fun to explore. Chauncey Village is a cultural melting pot of ethnic cuisines. Here the emphasis is on Purdue University traditions and memorabilia, so nightlife, dining, and shopping are done in a fun college atmosphere.

Wabash Riverfront is where you’ll find the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, Riehle Plaza, Tapawingo Park, and part of the Wabash Heritage Trail. Here, too, are dining and shopping along with an urban trail, movie theater, and river views. The Arts and Market area offers eclectic shops, dining, breweries, a wine bar, galleries, museums, theater, and live-music venues. From May through October you’ll also find the Lafayette Farmer’s Market here.

Called the Parlor City because its paved streets were “as clean as your parlor” a century ago, Bluffton continues to make sure its downtown shines. Their “Bluffton NOW!” (new, old, wonderful) organization has created the Parlor City Plaza around their downtown courthouse for concerts, events, and farmers markets. They’ve also created an ongoing series of murals that tell the story of the town’s heritage.

The annual BrrrFest invites participants to taste beer and wine as a fundraiser for NOW projects, and a chili walk enables visitors to sample different flavors as they stroll around. Currently they’re at work on a pathways project that will turn downtown alleyways into pedestrian thoroughfares between public parking lots and the business district. Three of these are nearly complete, with another two in the works.

Another Wabash Riverfront city is Terre Haute, whose downtown area is charming with preserved buildings from the 19th century. You can visit six world-class museums, dine
at more than a dozen restaurants, and take a self-guided tour around the grounds of Indiana State University. Albion is Noble County’s county seat, and it’s here you’ll find the Albion Courthouse Historic District with plenty of locally-owned eateries, shops, and events. Nearby Kendallville is the county’s largest commercial and population center featuring one of the Hoosier state’s most beloved and longest, contiguous historic Main Street corridors. Hit the Antiques Trail, enjoy an app-guided walking tour featuring notable figures, and more.

Ligonier is home to more than two dozen large murals painted on the sides of their historic buildings. Here you’ll also find many three-story Victorian homes and a visitors’ center housed in a 1920s filling station.

Founded in 1838, Angola is home to several attractions on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Angola Commercial Historic District, Steuben County Courthouse, and a historic movie house—the Brokaw Movie House—among others. In the middle of Angola’s impressive historic downtown stands Steuben County’s most important piece of public art: The Soldiers’ Monument. The soaring memorial rises proudly from the hill known to locals as “the mound,” creating a traffic circle in front of the county courthouse, city hall, shops, and restaurants. It has stood as the unmistakable center of the county seat since 1917.

In Elkhart County, downtown Goshen offers a host of unusual shops and tasty places to drink and dine. Electric Brew is a good place to start off the day with lots of coffee choices and breakfast bites. Shopping includes Fables Books, a locally-owned independent bookstore, and the Soapy Gnome for soaps and skin-care products. Maybe stop for a snack at the Nut Shoppe for hand-dipped chocolates and raw or freshly roasted nuts or Shirley’s Popcorn for flavors that include cheddar and dark salted caramel. Polish off the day with a glass of home-brewed suds at Goshen Brewing, where you can also stay on for a tasty bar food dinner, or move on to a full authentic dinner at Maple Indian Cuisine.

Take a break from lake activities while you’re in Michigan City or City of La Porte, to discover arts, history, and food in these lively downtowns. In Michigan City, the Lubeznik Center for the Arts showcases art exhibits inside and public art installations outside, and the city’s rich industrial history is on display in the Barker Mansion, open for tours. If shopping is your thing, both cities offer boutiques and antique stores, along with restaurants and nightlife to finish off your day.

Shoppers will also find plenty to explore in downtown Valparaiso with more than 25 retailers who sell one-of-a- kind artwork, home décor, gifts, clothing, and accessories. These charming stores create a vibrant and unique shopping environment for finding diverse items.

When it’s time to dine, downtown Valparaiso offers more than 30 food and beverage spots covering a range of appetites–smoked ribs to sushi and wood-fired pizza to handcrafted burgers. While you’re here, play in the splash pad in Central Park Plaza and enjoy summer movies and concerts at the amphitheater. Check out July’s Wine Festival and wrap up the season with the Popcorn Festival and Valpo Brewfest in September.

In nearby Griffith and Highland, there are plenty of local shopping and dining options. Take in Highland’s downtown public art murals after a day of browsing their quaint shops. And in Griffith, check out their weekly Friday Central Market for an evening of fun.

A well-kept secret awaits in Lake County’s Miller Beach, which calls itself “where the Indiana Dunes begin.” The wonder is that this community also has a lively, walkable downtown filled with shops and restaurants. Be sure and check out Tiny’s Coffee Bar, a vintage lounge, full-service bar, and coffee shop. Enjoy their prohibition-era cocktails, along with all your favorite comfort foods. Looking for a treasure to take home? Indie Indie Bang Bang is a one-of-a-kind boutique, and the Miller School Shops is a collection of antiques and artist booths in a historic school building. Lake Street Gallery represents many artists, and if time allows, stop in at Vibrations for a glass of juice, a massage or a healthy breakfast or lunch.

At day’s end head to Beach Buds, a concession in Marquette Park where you can find food, drinks, and sometimes live music. From there you can watch the sun set behind Chicago’s skyline. It doesn’t get much better than that.