Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille (photos)

There’s a new restaurant coming to Valparaiso that’s celebrating a core time period in America’s history: Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille. A process that started just a year ago, this new restaurant is just weeks away from its open. Located on the corner of Linwood Ave and US Highway 30, Industrial Revolution is a salute to hardworking Americans, both in the past and now.

The building is built to look like it is still being assembled in the early 1900s, “frozen in time at the end of construction,” a concept from the collaboration of Mike Leeson and Bryan Siewin. They wanted a tribute to American workers, to those who build and protect this country, an idea that took them back to the 1930s when industry was booming and key innovations in ironwork, steam, and textiles led to a new way of life. Industrial Revolution incorporates some of these areas into its design: 100 year old clinker brick, the “misfits” of brick, cover the walls, 200 year old granite cobble covers the outdoor patio, reclaimed wood makes up the flooring, and an H-scale steam engine train runs overhead on an all-steel track through the dining area.

The roof of the building presents perhaps the most moving piece of all: a life-size sculpture of the famous 1930s photograph “Lunch atop a skyscraper.” Created by artist Sergio Furnari after being inspired by the photograph in 2000, this piece sat at Ground Zero for six months, honoring and boosting morale of the hardworking Americans, the ironworkers, helping with the recovery after the devastation of 9/11. Smaller versions of the statues, studies from the artist, will be available for purchase at the restaurant.

History will be present throughout the restaurant, not only in the architecture. Old black and white photographs decorate the walls, waiters are outfitted in 1900s baseball uniforms, big band jazz music plays in the background, and 25 plus televisions hang from the ceilings, depicting biographies of famous leaders (Henry Ford, Thomas Edison) and videos of how America was built throughout history (Rockefeller Center, Golden Gate Bridge). Mike and Bryan don’t want people to “just come here for the food.” They want to educate kids and help people remember those who have made this country great.

The menu will feature old-school American food with a twist, steaks, seafood. Stuffed hamburgers grace the menu as the signature item, with 8 varieties to choose from. Bruschetta, chicken tenders, and wings make up some of the appetizers offered. Brick oven pizza will also be on the menu. The goal is to “appeal to all six senses,” a fine dining experience with a family atmosphere.

Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille is set for a mid-April opening.

To view more photos from the restaurant, click here.