A Guide to Downtown Brownsburg Indiana

With more people venturing out to restaurants and summer providing longer days and pleasant weather, this is the perfect time to rediscover some of the hotspots in Hendricks County, Indiana!

Join me as I stroll through the newly renovated downtown Brownsburg and brag on several of the new and thriving businesses that have become fast favorites of locals and travelers alike. In addition to the businesses I will highlight, developers have created a modern community feel with apartments rising above retail establishments on both sides of Green Street just north of Main Street. 

All of it was created in front of Arbuckle Acres Park, which eventually will get a facelift of its own. But that's a story for another day, I want to focus on the here and now.

Rush Off Main

While the past year has been challenging for many small businesses, Rush Off Main has been very fortunate. Management credits its strong regulars for supporting this restaurant along the way and is encouraged that the crowds continue to grow.

Summer business at Rush Off Main remains strong as the patio seating, along with a stellar menu of Chicago-style eats, provides a huge draw.  This year the patio has been extended to the front of the building as well, adding more than double the outdoor seating options.

I can attest to this being an ideal spot to reconnect with friends while sipping on a Rush Punch!

Rush Off Main prides itself on being a family friendly sports bar that both adults and children love.  Adults can hang out and have a drink or two while the kids play with one of the many games or run around in the open courtyard space outside. 

Some of the most popular menu items include “Da Beef”, all the burgers, and the sausage and/or beef egg rolls, which are all made start to finish in house daily.

Those who haven't been to Rush Off Main for a while will notice an updated and expanded menu. You will find several new appetizer options, including fried ravioli and a sampler with chicken tenders, pretzel sticks and chicken quesadillas that is a crowd favorite. Cheese curds are also now available as an appetizer or a side add-on to any entree. 

What guests love most about Rush Off Main is the extremely comfortable and laid-back atmosphere, as well as the top-notch food!  At Rush you will always find sports on the TVs, good music playing and employees that love to be themselves and create personable relationships with the guests. 

BRU Burger Bar

Of course if you are craving a juicy burger, you now have another great option in downtown Brownsburg! BRU Burger Bar, part of the Cunningham Restaurant Group that includes Boulder Creek in Brownsburg, Charbonos in Avon and Stone Creek in Plainfield, just opened its Brownsburg location in March of this year.

Management reports business has been great, with an appreciative nod to all the support received from the Brownsburg community. Guests at BRU Burger Bar can tell that a lot of effort went into creating a great team in Brownsburg. From the cooks to the servers, each team member truly cares that BRU Burger guests have an amazing experience.

Dine on a gourmet burger made with quality, locally sourced beef. The hard part will be deciding which one to order as there are 20 creative burgers to choose from, including a couple vegan/vegetarian options.

I often go with the Burger Snack, a smaller but still very satisfying burger, and pare it with the Gorgonberry Pecan Salad. But on my next visit, I plan to try the Bourbon Burger, which comes with bacon, a peppercorn-bourbon glaze and horseradish havarti with a side of onion rings. My mouth is watering as I type! 

Not a burger fan? No worries! The BRU Burger menu also includes several delectable sandwiches, salads and desserts, not to mention an array of tempting appetizers, cocktails and plenty of gluten-free options.
 
BRU Burger offers indoor as well as outdoor seating, and the full menu is also available for carryout. Regulars will want to join BRU Burger's VIP program, which allows guests to earn points on every visit toward a $100 Rewards card. Pop in to BRU Burger to sign up or learn more.

Noble Roman's Craft Pizza & Pub

Now let's talk pizza! Having grown up in Central Indiana, I've enjoyed Noble Roman's pizza since I was a little kid. So I was thrilled when I learned this familiar pizza joint was coming to Brownsburg.

I was excited to see Noble Roman's Craft Pizza & Pub offers an expanded menu for all kinds of pizza lovers, because who doesn't love pizza! 

While still offering basic cheese, sausage, and pepperoni pies for the young and more basic pizza fans, Noble Roman's Craft Pizza & Pub also offers many creative artisanal options, all with made from scratch dough and plenty of fresh toppings.

Get wild with the Pig In The Apple Tree pizza (made with classic red sauce, mozzarella & muenster cheese, bacon, diced apples, black walnuts, gorgonzola) or go tropical with a Hawaiian Luau pie (topped with canadian bacon, ham, pineapple, toasted almonds, and a bbq sauce drizzle). Let's save the "does pineapple belong on pizza" debate for another day!

Dine in and pair your pizza with a craft beer or glass of wine from Noble Roman's extensive adult beverage offerings. Prefer to eat your pizza at home? Take advantage of Noble Roman's Pizza Valet, which includes free, to-your-car service every evening.

Thai District

One of my first blogging assignments with Visit Hendricks County, I was sent to Thai District restaurant to feast on authentic Thai food in an elegant setting. Not a bad gig!

While fairly inexperienced when it came to Thai cuisine, I quickly became enamored with the array of tasty options on the sampler platter and absolutely devoured the volcano shrimp.

Now more than a year later, I checked in with the management of Thai District and they admitted it has been a challenging year. They have had to pivot in some areas and do things a bit differently, but they offer their sincere gratitude to the customers and the town for the support they have received this year.

Thai District Restaurant is excited to be heading into summer and has a beautiful outdoor dining area to welcome guests. Be sure to try one of their newest drink options that are perfect for summer: Thai iced tea and a variety of specialty mimosas!

At Thai District, guests will be impressed with the quality and unique menu offerings, but it is the great service that will keep them coming back over and over again.

Elevate Office

In addition to an assortment of dining establishments, downtown Brownsburg is also home to a fabulous co-working space called Elevate Office. Situated at the north end of the new development, Elevate Office just celebrated its third anniversary.

Elevate offers flexible, month-to-month rental space that is perfect for start-ups, small businesses and a variety of entrepreneurs. Locals and out-of-towners can utilize the comfortable co-working space. You can also reserve a state-of-the-art conference room for a meeting that will be sure to impress.

At a time when many small businesses are struggling, Brownsburg is fortunate to have the unique services offered at Elevate to provide additional options for pursuing one's entrepreneurial dreams!

9/11 Memorial

While in downtown Brownsburg, don't miss the 9/11 Memorial at Arbuckle Commons just south of Elevate.

Brownsburg firefighters secured a 1500-pound steel beam recovered from the attack on the World Trade Center during 9/11, and proudly placed it in the heart of our town. Placards reviewing the details and timeline of that fateful day in 2001 aid visitors in paying homage to those who lost their lives in the attack and remind us all to never forget.

While the memorial is a sober reminder of a horrific historical event, it also provides a fitting tribute to the humanity displayed as our country united during a very difficult time. For me, the memorial represents resilience and community.

It is that same sense of community that is woven throughout Brownsburg and all of Hendricks County, making this community a fabulous place to call home...or to put on your travel itinerary! 

With still more retail space available, you will want to keep your eye on downtown Brownsburg to find out what unique businesses will pop up next!