The Blue Door Café may have closed its doors for good, but Mitchell Myers has no intention of letting the building occupied by the old eatery sit empty.
In the upcoming weeks, a new business will open its doors in downtown Greencastle, a restaurant and deli named Myers' Market.
Myers' Market will be located in the space that was formerly the Blue Door Café, which closed last April due to financial troubles.
Students had a special relationship with Blue Door as a place to study and eat. The café also supported student clubs and organizations, such as the Ultimate Frisbee team, senior David Gordon said.
"It meant a lot how Blue Door sponsored us last year, even in the midst of its financial troubles," Gordon, last year's team captain, said.
Though students were sad to see the campus-favorite close, they still look forward to a new restaurant in Greencastle, especially so close to the campus.
"I'm excited about the new restaurant opening because it will give us more options, and because it isn't part of a chain," first-year Brad "Smiley" Burch said.
The market will mainly be a soup-and-sandwich deli with a focus on the 14 different kinds of lunchmeat it will carry.
"I'm calling it a meal market. You'll basically get to create your own meal from the products in the store," said Mitchell Myers, the owner of Myers' Market.
Myers believes in the support of natural, local farming and is making it a staple in his business. The market will carry these types of products, such as Amish noodles or jams and jellies. Myers also intends to grind and mix his own brats in the deli.
Myers' Market will be well within walking distance for DePauw students, with its location on Washington Street, next to Green Apple Frogurt. The market will feature seating similar to its predecessor the Blue Door, with café-style small tables where students can enjoy their meals.
The market will also try delivering for the first month that it is open. If it is successful, delivery may continue. Customizable orders by the pound will be available, which will be ideal for grilling events.
"We also supply and deliver fresh meat," Myers said about the deli's catering service. "It's great for tailgates, fraternity cookouts, anything really. If you've got the grill, we'll bring the deli meat."
The menu will be consistently changing, shifting towards more soup options as winter nears. There will also be a specialty item each week, whether it is a specialty sandwich or a new product added to the menu. Myers even has hopes to carry fresh fish sometime in the future.
"Each of the first 52 weeks we're open, we'll have a new specialty item," Myers said. "Most of the time it'll be something wrapped in bacon, or with bacon stuffed in it."
He has spent the last couple years preparing Myers' Market, mostly by visiting successful restaurants to see what works and what doesn't.
"I've never seen a restaurant quite like Myers' Market, it's really a unique place." Myers said.
The market hopes to open within the next two weeks, with the interior of the store already coming together. When the grand opening does happen, Myers' will be offering samples to DePauw students.
Myers is also working to get Myers' Market on the DPU Plus Program, so students can use their IDs as they do at other restaurants within walking distance.
"This is going to be a ever-changing type of business, " Myers said. "A lot of exciting things are in the pipeline. We're always looking to make Myers' Market the best dining experience possible."
