14 local beers on tap at new Fountain Square restaurant

Nimble entrepreneurs rethink, revamp, and re-launch

INDIANAPOLIS (November 25, 2011) – Since buying the Fountain Square Theatre building in the mid 1990s, Fern and Linton Calvert have created what has become, for tens of thousands of visitors, the gateway Fountain Square experience: duckpin bowling, swing dancing, a wedding reception, a corporate meeting, or rooftop garden dining.

Along the way, they've constantly massaged and modified the property's business mix. Long gone are the antique store that took up most of the first floor, the 50s-themed diner, and the hair salon and other small businesses that occupied the upper floors of the building. The Calverts don't let sentimentality get in the way of their business. "This is a large building with large overhead expenses," says Linton Calvert. "When we see that something's not working, or an opportunity to increase revenue, we move on." For example, the Calverts converted the Fountain Room into the Smokehouse on Shelby, a popular (and successful) barbecue joint. They converted the Fountain Diner into Imbibe, a clubby, stylish, 40s-era cocktail lounge.

Now they've closed the building's flagship restaurant, the shelBi street caFe & bistro, to transform it into a cozy hangout with a gastropub-style menu and an impressive craft brew selection. Why? "We were hearing that people thought the caFe was too fancy," says Linton, "and we're not a fancy neighborhood." They also see a lot of potential in the booming microbrew industry, especially now that the Fountain Square Brewing Co. opened just down Shelby Street. The conversion process will take just two weeks, and they'll do most of the work themselves.

The End of the Line Public House (just call it "The End") will open its doors on Friday, December 2, 2011 to coincide with IDADA First Friday. The name comes from Fountain Square's use as streetcar turnaround at the intersection of Virginia Avenue, Shelby, and Prospect Streets, beginning in 1864. For a long time, the neighborhood was known as "The End" by the locals. The Calverts picked up on that history, but also think the name has new relevance, since Fountain Square is the end of the southeast leg of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

The restaurant's decor will feature old photographs of streetcars from the Bass Photo Collection at the Indianapolis Historical Society, and 35 feet of bar space – perfect for sampling flights of craft brews. The End will feature one of Indianapolis's largest selections of local beers. Fourteen taps will pour standard and seasonal offerings from Fountain Square Brewing Company, Sun King Brewing , Flat 12 Bierwerks, Triton Brewing Company, Upland Brewing, and New Albanian Brewing Co.

The new menu will be simple, yet hearty. Some shelBi street caFe favorites will still be available: the gingham and Mediterranean salads, the salmon cobb sandwich, and the always-popular pizzas. New menu items will provide plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat eaters. Starters will include fresh Baked Pretzel Sticks with Beer Cheese Sauce, Fried Coconut Artichokes, Seared Ahi Tuna, and Glazed Denver-Style Lamb Ribs. There will be an impressive array of sandwiches, including Ye Old Blighty Burger, the B.Y.O. (build your own) Burger, the Blazin'Asian Chicken, a Gooey Spinach Melt, and the Baked Brie and Fuji Apple Sandwich.

About Fountain Square Fountain Square continues to flourish as a microcosm of global cuisine: Greek, Thai, Pan-Asian, traditional Mexican and Cantina, Italian, British Pub, Barbecue, American Bistro, and classic American diner. The End of the Line Public House showcases local craft beer with a gastropub-style menu. These are the kind of locally-owned restaurants with reasonably-priced, delicious food that become popular favorites with foodies, the culturally adventurous, and the locals too. Fountain square has a lot of them, all in one walkable neighborhood just southeast of downtown. More information at www.DiscoverFountainSquare.com.

The End of the Line Public House in the Fountain Square Theatre Building
1105 Shelby Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 687-4857
http://www.fountainsquareindy.com