Roundup: Illinois Food Emporium sold; Snooty Fox update

Illinois Street Food Emporium, a north-side staple that’s been serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner for more than three decades, has a new owner.

Vivian Farris, a longtime local restaurant manager, announced Tuesday that’s she’s purchased the restaurant at 5550 N. Illinois St. from founders Ernie and Sue Kobets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Farris said in a prepared statement that her vision for the restaurant, synonymous with its location since 1979, is to “continue to be the premier bakery and upscale cafe in Indianapolis offering great food, friendly service and reasonable prices in a clean and comfortable atmosphere.”

The Indianapolis native has more than 30 years of restaurant experience, including stints as general manager at Talbott Street Nightclub, Malibu Grill and TGI Fridays.  

The menu, catering service and hours of operation will not change at this time, Farris said.

Illinois Street Food Emporium is open Monday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In other restaurant news, more details have emerged on Ed Sahm’s plans for the Nora building that formerly housed The Snooty Fox.

The owner of the Sahm’s chain told IBJ that he plans to convert half the space at 1435 E. 86th St. into a microbrewery to be called Big Lug Brewery, with the northern portion operating as a Rockstone Pizzeria & Pub. He also hopes to have a beer garden fronting the Monon Trail.

The pizzeria will seat 160 and the microbrewery 100.

Sahm opened his first Rockstone early this year at 11501 Allisonville Road in Fishers, next door to Sahm’s Restaurant. Sahm has a total of 11 eateries in the Indianapolis area.

Sahm is targeting a late January opening and will operate the two establishments with his son Eddie, who owns Sahm’s Place at the southeast corner of East 65th Street and North Keystone Avenue.

The Snooty Fox closed in October 2011 after a 29-year run.

Also:

The latest Walmart Neighborhood Market in the Indianapolis area opens Wednesday at 5555 Michigan Road.

The 41,000-square-foot store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's part of the retailing giant’s plans to open up to 300 smaller-format groceries this year.

Walmart now has five neighborhood markets in the Indianapolis area.