Taste of History
The Prewitt Celebrates the Past, Present and Future
Writer / Jamie Hergott
Photographer / Amy Payne
The Prewitt Restaurant + Lounge opened in November of 2022, and its rich history and iconic style are a throwback to the buildings past, which began in 1915.
Purchased by Keller Huff Restaurant Group in 2021, the new venue is considered upscale. They also offer live music, concerts and weekly classic movies. The owners wanted to be a part of preserving history in downtown Plainfield, while also adding to the landscape of unique places to eat and visit.
Allison Motter, director of sales and marketing, says the building was just the right fit.
They really looked around to see what was lacking in town and this building was perfect for their vision, Motter says. They could create an upscale restaurant while keeping the historical side of things.
The towering walls that flank the stage when customers step through the front door are all made of exposed brick, original to the building. In fact, many elements of the building are completely original. The burgundy and white penny-tile flooring at the entrance, wood taken from some of the demolition to make the bar surround, and impressive marquee sign out front with nostalgic rows of light bulbs, are all relics from the buildings past.
Even the name is original. The Prewitt family owned the building for decades, first opening it in 1915 as a service garage where cars were serviced and sold. According to Sarah Wrights book, 50 Historic Buildings of Plainfield, Indiana: The Places and the People, Joseph Prewitt was the very first person in Plainfield to own a car, so his business, which thrived until at least 1925, drew a lot of attention.
While there isnt much information about why it closed, the building was renovated into a movie theater, which opened in 1927. The Prewitt family used all local businesses and contractors to create the theater, which was one of its most impressive claims to fame at the time.
In a time when the Golden Age of Hollywood reigned, the theater operated six nights per week. Many current residents still have fond memories of visiting the theater as children or on a first date, or attending the free movies shown at Christmas for local school children.
Wrights book also points out that the theater was segregated. Black customers were not allowed into the Prewitt Theatre and had to go into Indianapolis to see a movie.
Reann Poray, manager of the Indiana Room at Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, says one of the residents actually remembered when it was desegregated during World War II. Wrights book states that Judy Heffelman, a Plainfield native, remembered a student working on a history project who convinced the Prewitts to integrate the theater, insisting that, if the boys are good enough to fight in the war, they were good enough to come to town and see the theater. Poray says according to oral history, Mrs. Prewitt was moved to tears and agreed to integrate the theater.
The auditorium seated roughly 500 people, and the stage, which was fully equipped, still stands today. The lounge area of the restaurant sits right in front of it, laden with plush leather couches – a perfect spot for post-dinner dessert or drinks.
Customers can make their way upstairs to a more private bar and restaurant area, which feels almost like stepping into a speakeasy of the past. A door opens to an outdoor patio, which will provide outdoor seating this spring, and another private room with an original fireplace will be decked out with a huge table designed for private lunches and tastings.
Every time you come here, you can sit somewhere else and get a fully different experience, says Savannah Dairl, general manager. The menu changes seasonally, and we have a different brunch, lunch and dinner menu. You can come here as many times as you want and not get tired of it.
The building had been vacant since 2005, when the theater closed. The history behind many of the changes involving the theater is interesting to say the least. When the Prewitt family opened the theater in 1927, they wanted to provide every possible comfort they could for a local picture show. They showed tasteful movies, and it was a safe place for families and older kids to hang out and see new releases.
In 1961 the theater fell under new ownership, and was renamed Cinema West. The theater didnt last long after that, as many community members complained about the theater only showing adult movies. The marquee stated that the movies were Fine Arts For Adults Only, according to a 1970 article in the Indianapolis News, which also described the new films as saucy adult movies. A debate erupted in the town, and eventually the owner filed for bankruptcy and the theater closed.
The facility limped along through several owners before the Town of Plainfield purchased it in 2018. It took a backseat to other new developments in Plainfield at the time, like the opening of Metropolis and the brand-new movie theater there.
In 2021 Keller Huff Restaurant Group purchased the building, renovating it into the up-and-coming, upscale restaurant locals are enjoying today.
Poray is thrilled that the history of the building, and of downtown Plainfield, is kept intact in this new gem on Main Street.
I just think its nice that, in a world where were always changing things, and developing and improving things, this group was able to make something better from what was original, Poray says. The theater and restaurant bring back nostalgia for a lot of people, and people seeing it for the first time can get a feel for what it was like in the past.
In 2012 her staff interviewed residents of Plainfield to obtain oral histories from their memories of the theater.
Poray says that in the past, many referred to the theater as the Sticky Foot, since the floor was always sticky with whatever was spilled or left on it, like theater soda or candy. The current menu includes a nod to this nickname, offering a dessert called the Sticky Foot.
While the Prewitt team takes reservations, open seating is always offered as well. It is located at 121 West Main Street in Plainfield. For more information, call 317-203-5240, visit prewittdining.com, and stay up to date on Facebook @prewittplainfield.
