If you haven’t ventured over to downtown Plainfield in Hendricks County in awhile, you’ll find plenty of new discoveries to explore along U.S. 40. Don’t worry, evergreen favorites like the Oasis Diner, Al’s Donuts and Sal’s Pizza are still around, but development in recent years has freshened up Main Street with some exciting new additions.
The sunny Green Room Café attached to the Hendricks Live! Building is a great place to start the day with a delicious selection of hot and cold espresso-based drinks to accompany baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. The next block to the east offers up Gear Up Cyclery for all your bicycling needs along with stylish furnishings and décor to browse at African Plum Home and More. (Serious shoppers can journey farther east to see what’s new at the expansive Shops at Perry Crossing outdoor mall.)
Across the street, stock up from a well-curated collection of locally sourced foodstuffs like meats, cheeses, breads and produce at Roots Market + Eatery, and stick around to enjoy a freshly made sandwich or salad for lunch. Before going in, glance up the alley to the north to admire “We Are Interwoven,” a colorful public art installation that covers an exterior wall of the Center Street Parking Garage.
Upstairs in the same historic building, the newly unveiled and beautifully renovated Eyrie venue promises to quickly become the hottest space in town for weddings and other elegant events.
Next door, the Prewitt Restaurant and Lounge has made itself right at home in its 1920s Art Deco movie theatre setting, serving up inventive cuisine — shrimp cocktail, short rib eggrolls, sesame-crusted tuna — and expertly crafted cocktails. Live music, film screenings and other fun entertainment offerings round out the experience.
And speaking of entertainment, Hendricks Live! hosts national touring artists, Hendricks Symphony concerts, and full stage productions in a contemporary accessible 600-seat performance hall.
Cap off your visit with an ice cream and other sweet treats at the Frigid Frog just east of the Plainfield Friends Meeting House and Van Buren Elm Rock landmarks.
For more information, go to visithendrickscounty.com.
