Turning Over a New Leaf
Green District Is Finding Fresh Success at Fishers Location
Writer / Renee Larr
Photographer / Walker Photography
Eating healthy isnt always easy, given the pressures of a busy lifestyle. Chris Furlow and his business partner Jordan Doepke were lamenting this predicament, which led to an idea for a new business venture for the two. In 2017 they opened their first fast-casual salad restaurant, Green District, in Louisville. One of their newest locations is in downtown Fishers.
We were discussing how hard it was to find healthy food while on the go, Furlow says. In addition, we thought it wasnt fair that the east and west coast had so many options while the Midwest didnt get their fair share.
Furlow says the core menu is 99% the same across all locations, with 12 prefabricated salads available as wraps or grain bowls, and build-your-own salads, wraps and grain bowls. Furlow says each site offers a salad specific to its area code.
Were always listening to our customers and collecting as much data as possible, Furlow says. Were a young brand, so were constantly evolving to meet the demands of our clients. Sometimes our clients want to design their meal, and sometimes they want to be guided.
The 317 Salad is a blend of romaine lettuce, pulled barbecue chicken, purple cabbage, cherry tomato, carrot, pickled jalapeño and cheddar cheese. Its topped with croutons and fried onions, and served with ranch dressing and a barbecue sauce drizzle. Other salad options include the Thai One On Salad with shrimp, edamame, carrot, cucumber, green onion and Thai peanut dressing.
Furlow says seasonality affects the menu offerings, and to adapt, Green District offers limited-release menu items offering the best each season has to offer. A fall salad might include squash and pumpkin seeds.
The first day we opened the Fishers location, we had a huge line of people outside the door waiting in the nasty, cold weather, Furlow says. Weve done much better than we even anticipated, and weve gotten great feedback.
Furlow says the busiest time for a Green District location is March through October, when people are more invested in eating a salad. He says there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Fishers location, and residents seem to have embraced it.
Customers can dine in or place an online order for pickup. Furlow says they keep the same tone and vibe at every location, while allowing for individualization. He says there is one thing that makes it unique – the employees.
Our employees are extremely welcoming and make people feel comfortable asking for help or suggestions, Furlow says. As an owner, that is important to us and to keep people coming back to Green District.
Furlow says Green District tries to hit different areas where people work and live. There are two other Indianapolis locations, in downtown Indy on Monument Circle and in Nora.
Green District Fishers is located at 8701 East 116th Street, Suite 140A. For more information, visit gdsalads.com.
