Thursday, July 25, 2024
McMoon Shine
photo by JACK BOYCE
Bistro Finding Success at 39 Public Square
Meagan Flory has been on the local restaurant scene long enough to know the business history of 39 Public Square.
“Primetime, Bonnie & Clyde’s, Tour of Italy, Munchies, and now us,” she said, in rapid succession in an interview this week, adding that the list does not include familiar non-dining former occupants such as Meltzer’s Gym and Becom’s.
As Flory’s restaurant, Blue River Bistro & Bar, nears its one-year anniversary in the southwest quadrant of Public Square, she hopes she’s found the formula for longevity.
“Several of those restaurants were here for a couple of years and then left. I don’t want that for us, I don’t want that for the space and I don’t want that for downtown,” Flory said. “I want us to have a business that grows and thrives here, to get past these first couple of years and be permanent.”
Flory knows the scene as well as anyone. She started waitressing at the Cow Palace when she was 16. “I wouldn’t be doing this without Norma (Zimmerman),” she said of her first manager’s helpful guidance.
She’s worked at various other downtown establishments over the last dozen years, including Pasghetti’s, yet another former occupant of 39 Public Square. When the space opened last year, the timing seemed right.
“I knew I wanted to do my own thing,” Flory said. “You have to push yourself, and for me, I’ve managed, I’ve bartended, and I felt like I hit a plateau. I started asking myself, ‘What’s next?’”
Although she thought that dream would come years from now, the closing of Munchies led her to launch out on her own.
“I have a soft spot for this space,” she said.
Flory got to work legally organizing Blue River Bistro & Bar, a family-friendly breakfast, lunch and dinner establishment with a bar in the back. Her restaurant opened September 28, 2023.
“(The process) was less difficult than I thought it was going to be,” she said. “But we’re still pretty new, and there’s a lot of people who don’t know that we’re here. We have regulars that we've been building up, and we appreciate them.”
The Bistro is open daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., except for Sunday, when it closes at 3 p.m. Private parties can be accommodated on Sundays after hours. The breakfast menu, along with lunch options, is served until 4 p.m., and lunch and dinner items are available until close.
“Some people think we’re fine-dining. We’re not; we’re casual, and we’re moderately priced,” Flory said.
Being on Public Square has helped with the casual vibe. Pastries, handheld breakfast sandwiches and coffee are favorites of some who want to-go options while strolling downtown.
“Thanks to DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas), you can also get alcoholic drinks to-go and take it out to the farmers market on Saturday mornings,” Flory said.
Drinks are another specialty of the Bistro, served from the back bar, which is long and narrow, and doesn’t have a stage for live entertainment.
“We’re more of a Cagney’s-style lounge,” she said.
The Bistro was recently one of several downtown restaurants to participate in a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl. Flory said a similar type of event, an end-of-summer luau, is also in the works.
NOTEBOOK:
Improvements at several local intersections are in the works. “During this period, the City of Shelbyville assures residents that no roads will be closed. Instead, intersections under construction will have flaggers directing traffic, supplemented by optional detour and alternative route signage to ensure smooth traffic flow,” a media release said. Also, the contracted company will distribute schedule fliers to adjacent residents prior to starting work. To facilitate construction, a 50-foot buffer alongside the project areas will be designated to prevent parking and potential vehicular damage. Affected areas include:
Elliott & Franklin: installation of 24’ curb & gutter
Mechanic & Noble: sidewalk improvements
Noble & Jackson: installation of four handicap ramps
Progress & McKay: installation of one handicap ramp
Pike & Mechanic: installation of two handicap ramps
Knightstown & Morris: sidewalk removal and curb installation
Maple & Washington: installation of two handicap ramps
Jackson & Pike: installation of two handicap ramps
Shelby County Democrats are holding a “Blue GrassRoots” fundraiser for local candidates on Aug. 16, featuring music by The Moon Cave Ramblers. Tickets are available online or from County Commissioner candidates Joe Land and Winnie Soviar or County Council candidate Chase Yanzer.
CORRECTION: A person in the Southwestern school photo in yesterday‘s edition was misidentified. It should have said Phyliss Wasson instead of Joy Baker Fox. The edition was corrected early yesterday. Our apologies for the error!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The most vibrant genre in books right now is religion, with sales up 12.1 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023. Books like Mostly What God Does and Practicing the Way have sold (respectively) 155,000 and 130,000 copies. The Bible has sold gangbusters, with the top five bestselling Bibles moving 365,000 copies in the first six months of the year. (Publishers Weekly/Numlock)
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Editor’s note: The Shelbyville High School Courier is going digital this year, with student-led coverage of student activities and athletics to be published on the newly created Instagram page when the academic year begins. We are in the midst of a series that dives into the Courier archives. Today’s featured edition is from May 1967.
Mr. Floyd Shull was retiring after 45 years of service. He started teaching in 1919 in a “Little Red Schoolhouse” in Hancock County. He came to Shelbyville in 1929. He and his wife lived on Van Avenue, where they had lived since moving to Shelbyville. “Mr. Shull enjoys doing chores around the house, repairing the minor ails of his automobile, and walking - of which he does quite a bit,” the article said. “He has made no specific plans after his retirement other than to rest for a while.” Shull noted he had taught “quite a few” of the then-present SHS faculty.
Ray Hinshaw was stepping down as sponsor of Forum. He had been the organization’s only advisor in its 28-year history. Mrs. Murphy and Mr. McMichael would be the new advisors. Members receiving their pins for service were David Dean, Bill Haehl, Susie Hamilton, Jane Huesman, Steve King, Tom Marshall, Mike McKee, Jerry Moore, Paula Mooris, Myra Overman, Cathy Reeves, Rex Steffey and Jeff Walker.
Steve Drake was named the Paul Cross Award winner. Drake, Doug Ash and Barry Shambach had been co-captains of the team. Tim Ash was named the team’s Most Valuable Player; Shambach, best free-throw shooting; Drake, best defensive; and Wes Miller, Most Improved Player. Varsity letters and sweaters were presented to Rick Hobbs, Neil Comstock, Tom Cord, Bob Adkins and Miller. Student managers getting awards included Roger New, Dana Mollenkopf, Jim Ranochak and David Craig. Reserve basketball letters went to Rich Brown, Greg Lowe, Fred Avant, Dennis Danner, Larry O’Neal, Kim Ash, Rod Dickmann, Doug Wood, Tom Carmony, Bart Dalton, Greg Alvis, Harry Larrabee, Mike Platt and Dave Zerr. Freshman numerals went to Doug Adams, Charles Caldarone, John Cotanch, Farrell Curson, Don Hayes, Randy Hindman, Larrabee, Jim Linne, Jim Matney, Terry Moore, Dwight Overman, Ed Pritchard, Dale Steffey, Tom Stieglitz, Gary Talbert and Scott Williams.
Saundra Pyle was crowned Queen of the 44th annual SHS May Festival. She was escorted by Lord Mayor David Longstreet.
In track action, Paul Carter won the two-mile in a recent meet, with Doug Monroe in third. Kip Kiser won the shot put, and Bill Heck set a freshman record at 42’9” in the shot put. Sophomore Jerry Sosbe finished second in the pole vault.
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: A groundbreaking ceremony was set for Morristown’s new fire station.
2004: The Elks Blue River Golf Club, which had been forced to stop serving alcohol for two days due to an expiring liquor license, paid its tab and resumed service. Elks members would not divulge the amount owed, but said they had collected donations to cover the “substantial” amount due.
The Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission approved creating a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district for a proposed expansion by Knauf Insulation. The company was in the process of acquiring some properties to the west of Pike Street for the expansion. Knauf had been open about moving to other communities if incentives were not offered.
1994: The Shelbyville Common Council approved mandating recycling. Mayor Bob Williams said he planned to introduce a finalized ordinance soon, after gathering feedback from the public.
Photo Express owners Chris and Deborah Smalley announced plans to move the one-hour photo development business from East State Road 44 to 264 E. Broadway in a building owned by Wendall Bernard. Dentist Dr. Carole Thoman announced she would move from her Waldron office to 225 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville.
1984: Spenax Corp., one of Shelbyville fastest growing industries, received state money to help it expand its Elston Dr. plant, which employed 84.
Things were looking up for Pumper, the Dalmatian fire station mascot who had been hit while chasing an ambulance. He was released from the clinic with a good prognosis. “The News got an exclusive interview with him Friday as he rested at the firehouse,” the paper said. “When asked how he feels, he replied with an emphatic ‘Ruff!’, taken to mean things are kind of rough right now.”
1974: Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” was on at the local Cinema.
Debbie Lambert was named princess of the annual Firemens’ Festival in Flat Rock. Lauraette Caudill was named queen, crowned by the previous year’s queen, Tammy Ashcraft. Dan Justus was named Junior Fireman of the Flat Rock Festival for selling the most tickets. Fire Chief Ron Herrod gave Justus a fireman’s hat.
1964: Police received complaints regarding a serial prank caller. Jean Dobbins had originally called to complain, but Charles Buchanan, co-leaser of the Shell Service Station at E. 421 and State Road 44, said he was receiving similar calls, as were several others in town.
Editor’s note: A recent 1964 items repeated an error contained in the original. A corrected version follows. The Broadway Cafe opened at 14 E. Broadway, the site of the former Broadway Restaurant and Malt Shop. Della Wickline was the business owner. Her son, Richard Wickline, assisted with operations, as did Nellie Haag and Evelyn Treon.
1954: The newly-installed lights at the Shelby County Fairgrounds track were turned on for the first time. They were left on for two hours for adjustments. Installation was completed by Earl Goodwin, Theodore Polston, Robert Skillman and Lloyd Howery. Forty-nine poles surrounded the half-mile oval, and each contained either two or three lights. Eleven lights were mounted on top of the grandstand. One thousand extra bleacher seats, borrowed from the high school football field, would be used for the fair.
1944: Indiana Cash Drawer received war work from the federal government. They put out an immediate call for lathe operators.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Porter received a card from their son, Sgt. Marion Porter, who was in a German prisoner of war camp. It was their first direct word from their son since he had been captured.
1934: A Morristown man, who beat his daughter with a plum tree branch while her arms were tied to an iron pipe and her toes barely touched the ground as punishment for her losing a ten-cent dog chain, was taken to jail. Deputies feared “mob violence” over the issue, so they took action to secure the man, The Republican said.
1924: Herbert DePrez, manager of the Daniel DePrez Manufacturing Company, donated 500 pounds of ice to be used at the First Christian Church homecoming event. Bert Griffey contributed electric fans for use in the church.
1914: The Shelbyville Franchise League held its third afternoon tea, at the Kennedy home on West Washington St., to discuss the suffrage movement.
OBITUARIES
None today