If you haven’t been to the Oasis Diner in Plainfield, you’re likely in the minority.
They are known for their top-of-the-line tenderloins, country-fried breakfast and handcrafted sodas.
The food has made top-10 lists with USA Today and resides on four different Indiana Culinary Trails with the Indiana Foodways Alliance.
Aside from the food, however, the other feature that keeps many coming back is the history and nostalgia of the building itself. Oasis Diner celebrated 10 years in their current Plainfield location on November 22, as well as the 70th birthday of the diner’s build in 1954.
Walking in the front door of the Oasis, first thoughts might go to the days spent with friends at the local diner wherever you lived, the music of the day piping through speakers, clothing styles, and good times.
You might simply reminisce, or you might think about the history of this particular building – and it’s certainly got a story.
The diner was manufactured by Mountain View Diners in Signac, New Jersey, shipped via railroad to the east side of Plainfield and owned by James Canavan until the early 1970s. After a few owners tried their hand at the diner scene, Raymond Piercy took it over in 1985 and operated the diner until 2008.
Today local entrepreneur Doug Huff is at the helm as owner, and has worked to restore the building and preserve our memories.
“It sat just four miles east of where we are now, right at the Plainfield-Indianapolis line,” said Huff. “I have a construction company and there was a recession in 2008. I was looking to diversify and saw a blog from Indiana Landmarks about the 10 most endangered historical buildings, and Oasis was one of them.”
Huff began working with the Town of Plainfield with the desire to restore and reopen what many remember as a go-to spot over the decades.
“The front, stainless-steel part is original,” he said. “We reupholstered the booth seats and re-laminated the tables and countertops, but it’s all original. The tile on the floor is original. We had to extend the back a little bit to make way for ADA-accessible restrooms and additional kitchen space, but even then, we tried to reuse original pieces for the new part of the building.”
You might remember the front-page news when the Oasis Diner made its move from the Plainfield-Indianapolis line to downtown Plainfield, where it sits today. They may have restored the diner to its former glory, but Huff knew he was handling many memories along the way.
“So many generations grew up going to the diner,” he said. “I wanted it to be in downtown Plainfield as a place to gather, but we didn’t turn it into a 1950s feel on purpose. We highlighted all of the decades it’s been around. We have 45s, records, tapes and CDs. We have lunchboxes and license plates from all the decades. We wanted to honor that and I think that’s why people love it. It’s a reminder of the past.”
Huff said he never would have imagined Oasis as successful as it is today, but with such community support and encouragement, Oasis now serves as a go-to place for future generations too.
Looking back over the past 10 years, he recalls the care they put into their famous tenderloin.
“The recipe came from the previous owner and I knew the tenderloin was going to be huge,” Huff said. “We hand-cut and press ourselves, cube it, and bread it when you order so it’s always fresh. We put in the extra effort to make sure we get it right.”
The outdoor patio with seating was a win for most. Placing the diner next to the trails and along Main Street made it a destination for those who spend the afternoon biking, shopping and now attending events at the art center.
Over the years Huff found more ways to incorporate the history of the diner too.
“We found some plywood, originally tacked to the back of the diner when they shipped it,” he said. “They would paint on the plywood where it was manufactured, where it was shipping to, etcetera. A few years ago I was able to piece it back together and we had a local artist reproduce it on the back of the diner.”
Perhaps the reason so many enjoy the diner is Huff’s attention to detail and appreciation for its history.
“I like to take things they don’t make like this anymore,” he said. “You can’t reproduce it, so I think, ‘Why not redeem it and restore it?’ Don’t throw things away that are important. I’ve always been a creative person and I just enjoy creating new things.”
These days, Huff is incredibly busy. He still owns that construction company, and most recently he opened The Prewitt just down the block from The Oasis Diner.
He said the key is to have the right people on the job.
“My General Manager Danyelle McCraig has been with me since day one,” he said. “She started as a server and then became general manager, and she’s been able to keep things consistent and well-managed over the years. We’ve got the same thing with The Prewitt. It’s so cool to be a part of it.”
The Oasis Diner team celebrated the 10th and 70th anniversary the week of November 18 with limited-time posters and tie-dye T-shirts available for purchase to commemorate the occasion. Those famous tenderloins were on sale for $10 a piece in honor of the 10-year anniversary.
If the community has a say, the Oasis will be a fixture of downtown Plainfield for another 10 years.
“It feels like an icon for Plainfield and Hendricks County,” Huff said. “I always wanted it to not be my diner, but Plainfield’s diner. I came along after many other people owned and established it as an important piece of our history. I love how the community has embraced it and it’s just a special thing to be a part of.”
