Let’s get real. One of the first things a college freshman does upon arriving on campus is scout the area for the best eats. That’s precisely what Kyle Eschmann did when he got settled in at the University of Missouri in 2007.
“I asked the guys, ‘What’s a good place to go eat?’ and they told me Pickleman’s,” Eschmann says. He checked it out and was introduced to the Asiago Chicken sandwich, among other items. Not only did everything smell delicious and taste great, but the variety was also awesome and they delivered. Plus, being in such close proximity to a college, they stayed open until 2 a.m.
“It quickly became my go-to for food,” he says.
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe, a fast-casual chain restaurant that sells sandwiches, pizzas, soups and salads, has locations in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Customers love it for its variety, value, flavor and freshness.
Eschmann earned a degree in business management because he always excelled at having a good business mind. He originally thought he would help run his dad’s business after college, and he did for awhile until the situation flip-flopped. Eschmann and his wife, Sarah, decided to open a Pickleman’s franchise in Noblesville, inviting his father, Todd, to join in the endeavor. In April of 2022 they opened their doors, thrilled to introduce all the yummy flavors while bringing his favorite restaurant concept to the Hoosier state. The store is located at 9510 E. 146th Street, just east of Highway 37.
Eschmann, who was raised in Carmel and graduated from Carmel High School, can’t claim a favorite menu item from Pickleman’s because he says it changes every day.
“Everything here is amazing,” says Eschmann, co-owner and operations manager. That’s because we make everything fresh to order. We also make a lot of our own sauces and bake cookies fresh daily.
“The food is consistently good and we treat people well,” Eschmann says. “Our staff takes good care of you.”
Customers certainly notice and appreciate the effort.
“We see a lot of the same people every day or every week, which we love,” Eschmann says. One of those people is Karrie Lacina, owner of Fling Bungee Fitness.
“I love Pickleman’s,” she says. “Everyone who works there is very personable. I also love that they have a variety of different things to choose from. Plus, I’m big on cleanliness. I worked in the restaurant business for many years so I’m picky about where I eat.”
Melany Sherrill, center director at KidStrong Noblesville, also frequents Pickleman’s.
“I’ve tried a variety of their menu items and have yet to be disappointed,” Sherrill says. “The Walnut Cranberry Salad, pizzas, barbecue subs, and mac and cheese are a few of my family’s favorites. Also, the restaurant is clean and the staff is friendly.”
Eschmann says Pickleman’s gives Hamilton County something it does not have enough of – restaurants that are open late. Pickleman’s is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, offering a great place to hang out with friends, grab a snack, study, or have a cold soft drink.
Eschmann participates in a lot of Dine to Donate fundraisers for local clubs, groups and schools. They are eager to work with athletic departments, churches and other non-profit community organizations.
“We want to get out to the schools as much as we can,” Eschmann says. “We’re willing to host any group who would like to work with us.”
Just as he was happy that Pickleman’s delivered while in college, delivery and catering are a big goal for the Noblesville location to provide meal relief to busy families and our friends in the community. Pickleman’s only charges $5 for any delivery order, regardless of size.
“It used to be a percentage of the order, but I didn’t like that so I changed it to a flat rate of $5, we strive to make sure our pricing is fair and competitive,” Eschmann says.
Although they do most of their business in-store, customers can place orders online. They also offer catering. “Catering is really big at Pickleman’s. We can handle groups large or small, and the groups love the food. We can work with your food needs and budget.”
Eschmann says their top sellers are the Italian Club (Genoa salami, capicola, pepperoni, ham and melted provolone cheese, dressed with lettuce, onion, tomato, mayo, oil and vinegar, and Italian seasoning), the Chipotle Chicken (chipotle ranch, melted provolone cheese and lettuce), the Italian Beef (Chicago-style Italian beef dipped in au jus, with optional spicy giardiniera peppers, served with a side of au jus) and the Turkey Bacon Club (turkey breast, bacon and provolone, topped with lettuce, tomato and mayo). Pizzas are also popular and they offer a variety, including Asiago Chicken, and BBQ Chicken. They just added Mac & Cheese to the menu and will have more new offerings soon.
“You can’t go wrong with anything we have,” Eschmann says.
Down the road, Eschmann plans to open more locations in the area, but for now he’s concentrating on his Noblesville location and its patrons.
“We appreciate everyone’s support,” he says. “Noblesville is a very laid-back community that’s great for families.”
Speaking of families, Kyle and Sarah have eight-month-old twin girls, Adeline and Emberly, so needless to say, they are busy.
“That’s the toughest thing about working in the restaurant biz,” Eschmann says. “When you start a restaurant, you’re married to it. It’s time–consuming, but that’s why you hire the right staff and teach them how to do things the right way. I really appreciate our team and having a customer-first mentality.”
He wouldn’t trade it for the world, as he loves connecting with the Noblesville community.
“I enjoy seeing people regularly and providing them with something that they need and want,” he says. “I love Hamilton County. I’ve always loved living here and have never wanted to live anywhere else. I love the Midwest attitude in how people treat one another. We take care of our neighbors and take care of each other.”
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe is located at 9510 East 146th Street in Noblesville. For more information, call 317-900-1975 or visit picklemans.com.
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