Drewrys Smokestack: will it stay or will it go?

Good Thursday Morning! This newsletter is for the newbies, the lifers, the townies, and the domers.

In today’s digest:

• Drewrys smokestack and backstory

• A South Bend staple is making moves

• Curated events

• Rapid Fire Hits

This issue is 1,267 words, a 4.5-minute read.

The Digest

Drewry’s Smokestack

The old site of Drewrys Brewery may yet see new life. While no official word yet if the iconic 150+ year old Drewrys Brewery smokestack will stay or go, the city council did vote 9-0 in favor of changing how the area it sits on is zoned.

Why? The city wants to encourage developers to turn the area and land into something cool and residential.

Backstory: A Phoenix-based developer bought the site and for 10 years made promises to clean it up and bring new life to the area.

However, real change didn’t arrive until the City of South Bend secured it from the Phoenix developer in 2022. Since then, the City, in partnership with the EPA, has spent $1.7m and removed 14,000 tons of debris 🤯 

Digging Deeper: For a more thorough look at this development, check out this article. 

Fun Fact: If you want to try a Drewrys beer yourself, you can find them throughout the Midwest, specifically at these locations.

They also have an insane history on their site, with claims of being “the Pride of South Bend”.

And if you want to try it around town…unfortunately, you might have to wait. Or, you could show the site to your local bar and encourage them to jump on the bandwagon (Hammer and Quill, I’m coming for you 👀)

Local Business

Cambodian Thai Making Moves

Need to know: One of the most beloved South Bend Thai spots is transitioning to Mishawaka.

There’s no news on where they’ll put down new roots, but they ask customers to “be patient” throughout the transition.

Side note: I’m on a mission to find the best Pad Thai in South Bend; with this move, I might have to change my mission to find the best in St. Joe County 🤷‍♀️. If you have any Pad Thai recommendations in the Bend, send them my way!

A Local Feature: A Bite with Mee

You have truly lived if you have ever tasted any of the delectable delicacies Robyn Klingerman and Jairo Aleman have concocted. This husband and wife duo fused Korean and Mexican cuisine into one of the most sought-after foodie destinations in the Bend. They began as a pop-up tent, serving up some of the most incredible cuisine at nearly every festival, fair, and fundraiser.

However, instead of opening a restaurant (as I and many others thought they would), they gave us something even cooler: A Food Truck. Now, they can roll around town at any time; in fact, they’ll be rolling into the Portage Collective in the Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN) for a Lunar Celebration this Saturday.

They recently sat down for an interview with Eniola Longe with INside Indiana Business and were specifically highlighted in the most recent Entrepreneurship magazine. You can read the full interview here or read their story for yourself here.

The Happenings

Curated picks 📆 

🪄Midwest Magic

Guess what’s back? Back again? (Where my Eminem fans at?). For the Love of Art Fair is back as the “premier indoor art show”. Not only will you be able to enjoy incredible art, music, and more, but you’ll also have the chance to win gift cards from local businesses.

For the Love of Art Fair is a two-day event at the South Bend Century Center. At this show, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase art from creatives all over the Midwest.

Tickets are $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Check out their site for more details.

🎨 Exhibition opening: “Morgan Fleming: The 27 Club”

Morgan Fleming, in partnership with the Civil Rights Heritage Center, will be debuting an exhibition of oil paintings that depict members of the “27 Club”. Her work includes paintings of Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, and others who died at 27.

The 27 Club is a list made up primarily of musicians and other celebrities who suddenly passed at age 27. Event is on February 6, 6-7:30 pm.

“During her 27th year, Morgan Fleming explored the 27’s club struggles with isolation, disconnection, and the use of substances to cope with emotional pain. These artworks are both a tribute to their resilience and a reflection on her own journey.” Details

More events

A mix of things happening this weekend and into next week!

💃 Swing Into The Weekend - The Music Village, located next to the downtown library on Michigan St., offers swing dancing classes weekly. Details

🪣Another Drop in the Bucket - Rocki button is bringing you something new - get out of the house this week and check it out. Details

🛠 Calling all TLC and HGTV fanatics - Indiana Landmarks is hosting classes on basic home repair projects… learn something to help out your parents who bought their homes when they were *actually* affordable 😜 Details

🪴 Get Your Garden On - Already wishing for summer? Start to gear up with this seed-starting class; the more the seeds grow, the closer it is to outdoor planting time! Details

👨‍🎨 Calling All My Creative Lovers - Grab your significant other (S.O.) or your “close” friend or a whole group of your besties and check out this watercolor painting class at Sun King Brewery. 21+ Tickets

🎧 DJ Got You Fallin for some new beats at Langlab for this all-ages event, just don’t forget about the $5 cover. Details

✨Coming soon✨

If you’re like me and love planning ahead, mark your calendar for these events after February 6th!

🍣 Shout Out to the Young Professionals - Come hang out at Woochi Japanese Fusion with me next week! RSVP 

✍️ Culturally Speaking - Author, Maria Kelson, is coming to town to share about her life and book, Not the Killing Kind. Details

🍷 Perfect Pairings - When you inevitably panic because you forgot to make a reservation for Valentine's Day, check out this event by Unity Gardens. Tickets

🪓 Axes & Ohs - Check out this fun twist for your V-day plans. Tickets

☄️ Calling All My Single Ladies (and Lads) - Spread some love for yourself at this self-love event through cosmic connections. Tickets

🐶 For the Littles in Your Life - I hear Paw Patrol is all the rage with the younger crowd. Treat them to a night out to meet their favorite patroling pups at the Morris. Tickets

Rapid Fire Hits

Quick headlines and things to know from all around 🌐

Bonnie (the wandering turkey) of River Park is safe and sound and back in her natural habitat (Details)

Mayor Mueller Talks about what happened this month and what’s coming (Interview)

Common Council requests citizen committee members to participate in various committees, such as neighborhood relations, zoning and annexation, and others. (Details) 

Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) awarded 1M to study potential safety improvements for road and rail. (Details)

More City for South Bend? Annexation for additions to southside neighborhoods south of the bypass proposed (Details)

Here’s a fun Reddit thread looking for weekend trip recs 3-5 hours from here. Northern Michigan and Wisconsin were mentioned, anywhere else that’s worth going to? (Reddit)

If you already can’t wait for South Bend Tourist season to return (AKA ND Football season), check out the full 2025 football schedule! (OneFootDown)

🔴 From Around the State: 

The most iconic food in Indianapolis is... Shrimp Cocktail? Nate Spangle sat down with Craig Huse on the Get IN. podcast to chat about the 120+ year history of St. Elmo Steak House and how Indy became known around the world for having the best cocktail sauce.

Check out the full episode here. 

Happy Thursday!

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