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Clayton Anderson, a Bedford native who performed during the 2023 edition of Farm Aid at Ruoff Music Center, plans to open two bar-and-grill locations in Indianapolis.
The country music-themed establishments are expected to open this spring at addresses closely associated with nightlife in Broad Ripple and downtown.
Clayton’s Ripple Rodeo will open at 812 Broad Ripple Ave., where Mineshaft Saloon has served customers since 1992.
The downtown restaurant, Clayton’s Honky Tonk, will open on the first floor of the Morrison Opera Place building, 47-49 S. Meridian St., where a Hard Rock Cafe served customers from 1999 to 2019.
“Country music and all things country in general are so hot right now,” Anderson said in a written statement. “I don’t think there could be a better time.”
In 2014, Anderson reached No. 50 on Billboard magazine’s country albums chart with a release titled “Right Where I Belong.” He issued an album titled “Made in the USA” in 2022, and Anderson was invited to play an afternoon slot at the 2023 edition of Farm Aid where Bob Dylan made a surprise appearance among high-profile artists Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews.
Anderson, who’s lived in Nashville for more than a decade, is borrowing a page from country stars who have their names on marquees of Music City honky-tonks. That roster includes Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson and Eric Church.
Visitors to Anderson’s bar-and-grill locations should expect live music, he said.
“I look forward to providing an inviting and exciting space, not just for patrons, but for our local musicians from around the state to play,” Anderson says. “Who knows which one of my Nashville friends might stop by when they’re passing through town?”
Mineshaft Saloon, Rock Lobster and Average Joe’s made up a trio of long-running Broad Ripple bars owned by Rob Sabatini.
Steve Wentland and Itamar Cohen, co-owners of Broad Ripple sports bar Old Pro’s Table and Fishers bar the Main Event, recently purchased Sabatini’s interest in Mineshaft Saloon, Rock Lobster and Average Joe’s.
Cohen told IBJ that he, Wentland and Anderson make up the ownership group for Clayton’s Ripple Rodeo and Clayton’s Honky Tonk.
“We are very excited for both locations, which will boost traffic and healthy, quality night life to Broad Ripple and to the downtown area,” Cohen said.
Rock Lobster, 820 Broad Ripple Ave., and Average Joe’s, 816 Broad Ripple Ave., continue to operate.
Although the owner of former Broad Ripple business Vegas Lounge & Bar announced plans in 2023 to launch a new version of Vegas Lounge & Bar at Morrison Opera Place, that business did not open.
Two nightlife concepts owned by Cohen—Morrison Lounge and the Rabbit Hole—have operated for about a year in the Morrison Opera Place building.
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This is a really great idea. That old Hard Rock is a prime location. IDK how country will do in Broad Ripple but its better than nothing. Now we just need to move something into the old Scotty’s downtown. No clue why that place has not had a single business in it since it closed.
Yes! Go, Clayton !!!
Excited to have a country music option downtown.
I’ve always said Indy needs more live entertainment downtown for visitors and convention goers. Once tourists visiting for a convention event people need other activities other than visiting a restaurant. A strip with live music entertainment and bars similar to Broadway st in Nashville would be explosive for a growing downtown Indy