A Reason to Linger

At one time, Evansville’s Greyhound Station served a transient crowd, as people moved through the terminal on their way to and from other places. Today, the restored landmark is in the final stages of its transformation to Bru Burger at the Greyhound, a local gathering place where people can linger over gourmet burgers and Midwest beers.

Indiana Landmarks completed exterior restoration of the Art Moderne landmark in 2015, and recruited Cunningham Restaurant Group, which expects to open Bru Burger later this year.

Outside, an outdoor seating area replaces the stalls where buses parked. Inside, the the restaurant’s kitchen, restrooms, and bar area occupy the passenger waiting area. A new floor-to-ceiling interior brick wall creates a more formal entry into the restaurant.

Interior construction is underway to create Bru Burger at the Greyhound.

The original women’s and men’s lounges on the mezzanine level are being transformed into private dining areas, connected by a new walkway. The walkway will also give patrons a close-up view of a stained glass window depicting a running Greyhound.

Artisans replicated the signature stained-glass window from the damaged original.

During construction, workers have unearthed memorabilia from the Greyhound’s long history, including a wallet containing old photos, and old ledger books from 1940 through 1941 that offer a glimpse of the station’s daily activities. The most interesting discovery is a sketchbook containing drawings that someone may have used to document travels across the country.

Bru Burger has asked people to share other memorabilia from the Greyhound station and plans to display the artifacts at the new restaurant. If you have an object to share, contact Indiana Landmarks’ Southwest Field Office, 812-423-2988, ssebree@indianalandmarks.org.