Pure Eatery is permanently ceasing operations at its 6-year-old restaurant and bar in Fishers, its owners announced this week, citing an ongoing staffing shortage as the reason for the closure.
“Unfortunately we do not have enough staff, so it is with heavy hearts we will be closed as of 10/5/2021,” owners Dave Andrus, Courtney Andrus and Jason Jacobi said in a social media post. “We have enjoyed supporting our Fishers community and thank each of our guests for the love and support thru a very difficult year!”
The owners said Pure Eatery Fishers would open its bar one last time, from 2 pm. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, so that customers can say goodbye. No food will be served.
The flagship location of Pure Eatery, which opened in the historic Murphy Building at 1043 Virginia Ave. in Fountain Square in 2010, will remain open.
Pure Eatery Fishers opened at 8235 E. 116th St. in early 2015 in a prominent 2,800-square-foot space in Fishers Town Commons, a retail center that also includes Chatham Tap, Wild Ginger and Moe’s Southwest Grill as tenants. The busy location near the heart of Fishers sees daily traffic counts on 116th Street exceeding 40,000 vehicles.
The menu featured an interesting selection of appetizers, soups, salads, wraps, tacos, sandwiches and entrees, often made with locally sourced ingredients, highlighted with vegetarian options and a large array of adult beverages. The decor also included work from local artists.
The restaurant received positive reviews from food critics and patrons alike, and was ranked No. 10 out of 151 restaurants in Fishers rated by Tripadvisor.com readers.
“This community welcomed us in 2015 when you didn’t know who or what we were,” the owners said in their post. “We had a dream of bringing fresh, honest food, and local artwork in a space that welcomes all; to gather, eat, drink, and celebrate life. We’ve been so lucky to share our guests’ triumphs, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and provide a place to gather for life’s milestones. We have been home to some amazingly talented people, some have come and gone but left their mark.”
Jacobi said staffing issues have been an ongoing issue overall in the restaurant business that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The problem has been especially difficult at the Fishers location even though owners increased pay to as much as $19 an hour. Over just the past month the restaurant has been advertising to fill positions including host, bartender, server, chef, cook, line cook and prep cook.
Pure Eatery’s owners will continue to concentrate on their Fountain Square location. The Andrus also own Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub, which has a location in downtown Indianapolis and at 10462 Olio Road in Fishers.
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This makes me so sad. One of my favorite places!!!
I know Dave, Courtney and Jason professionally and personally. They are great people with tremendous family values. My family wishes them continued success with their other restaurant, which are all fabulous!
A great loss for Fishers. Hearthstone was ahead of its time in this location. Pure Eatery filled it well – we will miss it!
A few years ago people trample over each other to apply for jobs paying that good, like this business was offering. I don’t understand how none working people survive or save for the future when companies need employees.
Easy answer. They aren’t saving for the future, either on their own or through S.Security. Unemployment benefits do not count as earned income, which is what S. Security uses to calculate your monthly benefit once you retire. S. Security uses the average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which they earned the most.
Then again, in the food service industry, you are usually not talking about people old enough to be thinking of their retirement income, although they should.
UI is taxable income in Indiana. It normally is for the feds as well, but that was waived in the most recent tax season.
Part of the reason is Obamacare. “Free” health insurance lowers the need to work. Now we are paying for it in high debt, lost business and high inflation.
Obamacare isn’t free. Thanks for the laugh lol.
incredibly ignorant comment. Last time i checked my “free” obama care was 1500 a month.
James let me know where I can get some free Obamacare because it is anything but free when I look at it.
James P. That’s rubbish. “Free” healthcare (that isn’t free) does not pay the rent, buy the groceries, transportation or childcare. Employer sponsored healthcare may be “free” if there’s no premium for the employee; but you still need the salary/wages to pay the bills.
Wesley H, what planet do you live on? My Master’s degree niece quite working so her kids, and herself, could get free health insurance and she could stay home while her lower earning husband barely pays the bills and does not contribute to retirement. Add in the massive child tax money and EIC and, it sort of makes sense for her in the moment. “free” with quotes (sounds like you failed high school) means someone else is paying for it, namely future generations.
Are you sure your Master’s degree nurse and her kids aren’t on Medicaid?
I have “Obamacare” because I’m self employed. I pay over $400/mo for it. You realize Obamacare is just a private health insurance marketplace, right? Your niece sounds like a fool for choosing to quit working. If you’re extremely poor, you qualify for Medicaid, which is free. That was the case before Obamacare ever existed. If her husband barely pays the bills and doesn’t contribute to retirement, she’s going to have a disastrous future. You’d have to be extremely foolish to quit your job to get Medicaid. I guess it runs in your family. Thanks again for the laugh lol.
Cynthia, wake up. Sounds like you already woke up.
Very sad, and a big loss for Fishers.