TRAFALGAR, Ind. (WTHR) – Indian Creek Elementary School closed in 2016, but it's back open - not for classes, but for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Southern Comfort Cafe opened last month in the former school cafeteria.
Owner and head chef James Lochard bought the entire school building in September, including the gymnasium built in 1939.
Lochard closed his former restaurant location on State Road 135 and moved his "down home cookin" restaurant into the school located in downtown Trafalgar.
"It always nice to take something that's closed and turn it into something new and exciting,” said customer Laura Johnson from Franklin, after enjoying a tenderloin sandwich for lunch.
Turning the cafeteria into a restaurant might seem reasonable. But what do you do with the rest of the school? The owner decided to make it home.
On the second floor of the middle part of the builiding, the library is now a huge open living space still under renovation for the owner and his five children.
Classrooms next door are now bedrooms. A room marked “Mr. Beasley 2nd Grade” became a 3-year-old's playroom.
"It was a huge undertaking,” said Lochard. “A lot of people told me I was nuts or crazy or thought it was just a rumor because it's a small town."
With 67,000 square feet, Lochard envisions offices, retail shops, perhaps a daycare center and party rental rooms. The gym is an event center with the old school office next door serving as the concession stand.
"Something here that the community can be proud of, for one, and know that the person that's in it is not going to try to benefit for themselves but benefit the community,” said Lochard.
"It's fantastic,” said customer Mary Howard, who drove up with her husband from Bean Blossom for lunch at the new location. “It has character, you know. And I'm sure it has good bones and was built well."
The restaurant features food made from scratch, with Lochard and his mother preparing much of the menu.
Fresh cut tenderloin, brick oven pizza and beef Manhattan are among the most popular dishes. The Southern Comfort Café is open every day except Tuesdays.