Avon’s Ale Arrival
Ale Emporium has just opened its fourth location in Avon, and fans of the pizza-and-wings sports bar in Hendricks County are thrilled to have their favorite spot closer to home.
Similar to its Fishers and Greenwood locations, the Avon restaurant includes both family dining areas, a 21-and-over bar, and a covered patio.
There are 34 beer taps featuring local, domestic and imported options, a stage to host live music, and more than 100 televisions throughout the restaurant.
Ale Emporium first opened in Castleton in 1982 and is known for its Hermanaki wings and Honest Pizza.
“We just celebrated our 44th anniversary in Castleton, and it’s still a family-owned business,” says Brett Glaze, marketing representative for Ale Emporium. “Marc Luros grew up in Indiana, went to Indiana University in Bloomington, and he and partners established Ale Emporium. In the 1990s, Marc’s daughter Shannon and his son-in-law Scott Baun came on board, and most recently, Scott and Shannon’s son Michael has expressed interest and will soon be the next owner.”
Tony Kwiatkowski is also a partner in the Avon location.
Glaze says with restaurants on the north, east and south sides of Indianapolis, when the Avon location became available, there was no hesitation.
“Avon is a great area. It’s central to Brownsburg, Plainfield and Danville, and we’ve been so blessed by a strong following and loyal customer base. We heard it all the time at our other locations; people were driving 45 minutes from the west side to have our pizza and wings. That’s a great compliment, and we’re excited to be here,” Glaze says.
Though he refers to the restaurant as a pizza-and-wings sports bar, Glaze knows these aren’t just any pizza and wings. There’s a history and following for their particular specialties.
“Hermanaki wings is what we’re known for. It’s a secret recipe created by Herman Perryman. He is a longtime employee; started off as a busboy and dishwasher and worked his way up to being a kitchen manager,” Glaze says. “He came up with the sauce recipe on his own in the mid-1990s, and it took off.”
Perryman shared his special sauce with a few people, and before they knew it, customers were asking for Herman’s sauce when he wasn’t there to make it because he had the day off.
“Eventually, Marc went to Herman and said, ‘You’ve got to write this recipe down so we can make it on our own.’ It has now been trademarked and patented. Very few people have the recipe,” Glaze says.
Customers will still see Perryman at the Avon location from time to time, and in addition to the Hermanaki sauce, they also offer Hermazian and Hermaican sauces, as well as traditional barbecue, teriyaki and others.
The pizza at Ale Emporium got its name honestly, too.
“Let’s say we put 8 ounces of sausage on a large pizza. When you come in and order a half-and-half pizza, you’re still going to get 8 ounces of sausage on half of the pizza and 8 ounces of pepperoni or the topping of your choice on the other half,” Glaze says. “Honest Pizza is just our way of saying we don’t cut your portions.”
There are other popular items on the menu, too.
The Buffalo Chicken Dip and Homemade Pretzel-Crusted Pickles are favorites on the appetizer menu. There’s a large variety of salad options, and sandwiches range from tenderloin to stromboli.
If burgers and chicken are more your thing, there’s a variety of flavorings and options available, including the Black Jack Burger with Cajun spices and pepper jack cheese, and the Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
“Everything is made in-house. We are a scratch kitchen, so all of our dough, dressings and soups — it’s all made fresh and in-house,” Glaze says.
It has become the local hangout spot for residents near other locations, and Glaze looks forward to the same camaraderie and unity in Hendricks County.
With live music every weekend and summer music on the patio, sports playing on nearby televisions, and an atmosphere that invites neighbors to dine with neighbors, Glaze says he’s seen people embrace Ale Emporium over and over again.
“After you’ve been around for 44 years, you’ve witnessed first dates, engagement parties, and the crowd enjoying IU’s national championship together. We’re creating memories here, and we feel very lucky,” Glaze says.
Ale Emporium has only been open since early March, but they’re looking forward to becoming a community partner like they have at other locations.
Glaze says giving back is in their DNA.
“Whether it’s sponsoring local sports teams or dine-and-donate events, we very much like to get involved with our local charities, schools and nonprofits,” Glaze says. “The community has embraced us with open arms. Their reaction has just been overwhelming, and customers have been nothing but generous and complimentary. We’re very blessed.”
Visit aleemporium.securetree.com/Locations/Avon/Menu/ for a full menu and more information.
