Cunningham to open restaurant in Discovery Park District
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A rendering of the future multiuse Beck Barn slated for construction in the Discovery Park District at Purdue. The salvaged barn space will offer a farm-to-table restaurant established by the Cunningham Restaurant Group. (Image provided by DELV Design)
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A rendering of the future multiuse Beck Barn slated for construction in the Discovery Park District at Purdue. (Image provided by DELV Design)
Indianapolis-based Cunningham Restaurant Group is planning to open a farm-to-table restaurant at Purdue University’s Discovery Park District, the university announced Wednesday.
The restaurant will occupy part of a nearly 11,000-squre-foot barn that is being revitalized as a future community hub that will also include retail and event space.
The facility will be constructed using a century-old barn that is being donated by Sonny Beck, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids, headquartered in Atlanta, Indiana. The university said the project will maintain the character of the barn, while providing the modern structure and amenities needed for a hospitality space.
“We as a family wanted to give something back to Purdue, and we thought the Beck Barn would be particularly useful as a bridge between Indiana history, Purdue University and their future development together,” Beck said in a news release. “We’re excited to work with the Cunningham Restaurant Group to develop this icon within the Discovery Park District.”
Financial details of the investment in the new facility are not being disclosed.
The multi-use building will be located between Airport Road and McCutcheon Drive. Cunningham Restaurant Group CEO Mike Cunningham said the company plans to partner with the Purdue Agriculture program to provide local sourcing for the restaurant’s menu, which is under development.
“We are excited to be a part of this project in bringing farm-to-table to both a restaurant and private dining venue,” Cunningham said. “We look forward to introducing a new concept to serve the Greater Lafayette community.”
Purdue says the project will anchor the surrounding Squirrel Park area within the district and is part of a larger effort to fully realize the district’s master plan.
“From the very beginning, we’ve had the vision of creating a welcoming place to live, work, learn and play,” said Jeremy Slater, vice president of capital projects and facilities at Purdue Research Foundation. “We’re looking forward to our vision coming to life for the Greater Lafayette community with the new restaurant in the iconic Beck Barn.”
A timeline for the project’s completion was not provided.
Cunningham Restaurant Group is no stranger to the greater Lafayette area. The company opened a Bru Burger Bar restaurant in downtown Lafayette in 2019.
Overall, Cunningham operates dozens of restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.