Welcome to The Depot Grill

Trine restores historic depot, opens restaurant

 

ANGOLA, Ind. – Trine University has resurrected the former Lakeshore Depot, at 611 W. Maumee St., and is opening it as a restaurant available to the public on Monday, July 2.

The Depot Grill will feature regional, sustainable fare such as burgers made from all-natural, locally ground beef and hand-scooped ice cream from the Hudsonville Creamery in Holland, Mich. The depot was renovated to include a new kitchen that features nearly every gourmet gadget, except a freezer. There’s no need for a freezer, as all the food will be served fresh.

“We want to support our local farmers, bakers, butchers and businesses,” said Michael Bock, senior vice president and project coordinator. “We also want to ensure the quality of our products, and these local ingredients enhance the flavor of our offerings.”

Some of the local suppliers include Heavenly Breads and Sweets in Angola, IQ Meats in Butler, Michigan Turkey Producers in Wyoming, Mich., Fishers Packing in Portland, Moody Meats in Ladoga and Guggisburg Deutch Kase Haus in Middlebury.

The depot is the second building the university has acquired with the goal of restoration. In recent years, the university began renovating the former Angola Christian Church and is transforming it into the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts, which will serve as Trine’s new home for music and theatre and for the benefit of the students and community.

 “This depot has a long-standing history in the community, just like the Angola Christian Church,” Bock said. “We viewed the depot and the church, not only as assets for the university, but for the community. For the better part of a century, visitors and tourists to the area and Tri-State College students, first glimpsed the City of Angola from this depot.”

Trine purchased the depot in late 2011 from husband and wife Dennis Spidel and Janny O’Connell, who had used it as a home for the interior design and custom home construction businesses. They have remained a part of the renovation, as the university wanted to maintain the architectural integrity and history of the building. The depot is divided into three sections for seating, a passenger area, freight area and business office, which features a private dining room for meetings. In addition, outside seating will be available on the restored platform on the depot’s west side.

Much of the floor, walls and trim are original. Period colors were selected, and light fixtures and décor make visitors feel as if they’ve caught a glimpse of early 20th century America. Old pictures and newspapers hanging on the walls also help tell the depot’s story.

The depot came to Angola as a package on a train in 1911 and cost $4,248. Workmen lived in quarters on the train by night, and built the depot by day. The depot was used to receive freight of all kinds for the many industries in Angola. The building featured a slate roof, which was replaced only a few years ago, and galvanized steel siding, which remains to this day.

The original depot, which sat farther south, was ravaged by fire after a locomotive’s spark hit the building’s cedar shake roof in 1910. The fire surged when it reached the adjacent grain elevator, where dynamite was stored. Newspaper accounts say that a freak snowstorm kept the city from being obliterated by the fire.

“We hope the depot continues to play a significant role in the life of this community,” Bock said. “We welcome the community, our friends at the lakes, families – anyone who is hungry – to try the food at The Depot Grill. Not only will you get to step back in time, you’ll enjoy a great meal.”

The depot is open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Read the menu from The Depot Grill online at http://www.trine.edu/depot_menu.

 

To share your news, contact Trine University communication specialist Lindsay Winslow Brown at winslowbrownl@trine.edu.