TERRE HAUTE —
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
Business leaders celebrated the downtown restaurant’s recent expansion with a ribbon cutting and traveling party, moving from the location at 727 Wabash Ave. across the street to The Copper Bar.
In addition to expanded hours and menu offerings, the restaurant inside the Terre Haute Children’s Museum renovated its interior, adding the work of local artist Becky Hochhalter, as well as Italian monuments and murals.
Owner Rob Lundstrom said the restaurant’s growth is intertwined with that of the booming downtown activity.
“It’s something we feel good about and want to share with the whole downtown,” he said, explaining the need for more restaurant offerings in the area.
With nighttime events at the Hulman Center, as well as a growing number of festivals, Lundstrom said more offerings and activity help all businesses involved.
Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe features a street entrance separate from the museum, and is open days and hours that facility is not. Between Monday and Thursday, the restaurant is now open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., remaining open to midnight Friday and Saturday. Sunday offerings begin at noon and end at 9 p.m.
Inside the museum Thursday evening, the Louise’s team had specialty pizzas and food samplings displayed throughout the first floor. And as Lundstrom pointed out, that restaurant is not only a partner with the museum, but a component of a much larger network full of history.
Lundstrom’s organization also owns Louise’s Fine Italian Dining at the Terre Haute International Airport, The Copper Bar and Louise’s Copper Catering. The business’ namesake, Louise Ambrosini, launched her first restaurant at the corner of South Third Street and McKeen Avenue in June of 1939. Her mother, Lena Lorenzo, brought her family’s recipes with her to America while immigrating from Italy.
With the help of her sister, Ida Gottardi, Ambrosini operated the restaurant at that location until 1947, when she sold it to Gottardi and her husband, Jack Campbell. The business stayed in the family, passing to that couple’s son and daughter-in-law, Armand and Betty Campbell, in 1970.
The family sold its interest to local businessman Jerry Smith during the 1990s before he ended up selling to the late Rick Lundstrom, Rob’s brother, in 2001. The Lundstroms closed that location in 2004, but Rob re-established it with the opening of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum in 2010.
Meanwhile, the recipes haven’t changed much since the old days, and Lundstrom said the downtown restaurant is considering the possibility of offering delivery given its proximity to the Hilton Garden Inn and Candlewood Suites. The development of those hotels has been instrumental in bringing downtown Terre Haute back to life, he remarked.
Tasha Fagg, director of marketing for the group, said the expansion has been exciting and plays well with its nearby partner The Copper Bar.
“It’s good for both Louise’s and The Copper Bar,” she said, adding the group offers a wide array of catering options. Louise’s Copper Catering recently served an 1,100-person Nike Invitational, and maintains the concessions at The Terre Haute Rex stadium. But the group also services smaller affairs such as backyard family gatherings. “We can do anything from formal to fun,” Fagg said.
Dr. Bob Quatroche, interim president of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, said the “proud tradition” of Louise’s continues onward as part of the downtown’s revitalization
“We’re really pleased with this because again, it represents a growing trend in the downtown,” he said as the ribbon was cut.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis On site: Bill Felker pulls a pizza from the oven at Louise's Pizzeria and Cafe. The eatery held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to showcase their expansion in downtown Terre Haute.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Cutting up: Rob Lundstrom of Louise's Pizzeria and Cafe cuts the ribbon with Bob Quatroche, interim president of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, standing by.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis New look: A new awning has been added to the front of Louise's Pizzeria and cafe in downtown Terre Haute.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Overflowing: A painting of the Fountain of Trevi in Rome is one of four works by Becky Hochalter that adorn the walls of Louise's Pizzeria and Cafe in downtown Terre Haute.
-
Rob Lundstrom
Discussion
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
- News
-
-
Rockville correctional facility program teaches life skills
It’s hard to know who benefits the most: the inmates or the dogs.
-
AAA mag recognizes city for arts works
The nonprofit organization that uses outdoor sculpture to draw attention to Terre Haute is getting some notice of its own.
-
State pushing for convenience stores to make safety a higher priority
In 2002, after New Mexico forced convenience store owners to put sweeping security measures into place for clerks working late-night hours, the number of robberies dropped by 92 percent. Assaults, murders and other crimes at convenience stores also dropped dramatically.
Now Indiana officials are hoping voluntary compliance with similar safety standards will bring about similar results.
-
Patriotism & Honor
From his vantage point, Sonner Faught could see almost every volunteer in the cemetery.
-
Graduation turns to mourning in Clinton
Jeana Lunsford’s graduation from South Vermillion High School Saturday should have been a time of celebration.
-
School choice proponents foresee growth of vouchers
Twenty-seven Vigo County students benefited from tax-supported vouchers during the first year of the Choice Scholarship Program, and that number is expected to grow for 2012-13, say Indiana school choice leaders who visited Terre Haute Thursday.
-
Tales of obstruction meet first takeover attempts
A decade after Indiana legislators gave the state the power to take over chronically failing schools, the first implementation of the law is meeting with resistance, skepticism and questions about its costs.
-
MIKE LUNSFORD: Raising a flag for my father, veteran or not
My daughter, Ellen, and I stood at my parents’ graves on Mother’s Day a few weeks back and talked about how it couldn’t possibly have been so long since we lost them. My dad, for instance, has been gone for 16 years, and that is nearly unimaginable
-
3 rescued from burning residence
Quick action on the part of some first-responders is credited with saving the lives of three people in a Vermillion County fire early Saturday morning, according to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department.
-
He never forgot a name: Friends remember victim of fire at Garfield Towers
When Freddie Poore met you, he never forgot you.
-
Hometown boy embraces ‘Promise I Made’: Clinton native Ken Kercheval takes role in Dreams Come True production
Thanks to some help from a hometown boy in Hollywood, “This Promise I Made” is still on track to be kept in Clinton.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Many say they don’t vote in primary because of tag that comes with it
A couple of columns ago, I posed a question about why most Indiana polling places on primary election day had so few customers.
-
Police looking for convenience store robber
Police are seeking a robbery suspect following a Saturday morning armed robbery at the Jiffy MiniMart at 25th Street and Eighth Avenue.
-
Graduation ‘responsibility’: Rose-Hulman stages 134th commencement exercises
Inventor Dean Kamen gave a first-hand demonstration Saturday of how to be an innovator.
-
THE OFF SEASON: To the seniors, one last lecture before you go …
It dawned on me one day last week, as I sat at my desk in my teacher clothes and shoes, a stack of ungraded essays calling to me from a rather tall and depressing pile, that I hadn’t missed a high school graduation in 33 years.
-
HOT MEMORIAL DAY weekend ahead for workers, campers, garage salers
The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff of summer, and this weekend is expected to be a scorcher with consecutive days of temperatures in the low to mid-90s.
-
Water rescuers
Emergency personnel wheel a man who was removed from a vehicle that had been driven into the water at Crystal Lake on Boston Avenue near 14th Street at about 9 p.m. Friday.
-
For many, camping outdoors is the way to beat the heat, enjoy nature
Stringing up fishing poles in the shade of American flags, households full of Hoosiers are packing into parks across the state this weekend.
-
Towns along National Road readying for next week’s miles-long yard sale
Stretching 824 miles from Baltimore to St. Louis, the National Road — known as U.S. 40 through Indiana — will soon be the host site for perhaps the longest bargain market in the country.
-
Rose grads honoring late president Branam at commencement today
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Class of 2012 will honor the memory of Matt Branam during today’s commencement ceremony by wearing special pins with the phrase “Make It Happen; Make It Fun,” a favorite saying of the former Rose-Hulman president, who died unexpectedly on April 20.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 26, 2012
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers but are not final until the Vigo County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
Quiz King
Matt Aselage doesn’t usually watch TV game shows, but he is certainly up-to-date on current events.
-
A fallen soldier returns home
An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Arronn D. Fields early Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
-
Official touts trade with northern neighbor
A top Canadian diplomat told a Terre Haute audience Thursday his country was “disappointed” when President Obama at least temporarily rejected a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas.
-
Caution urged for summer’s kickoff
Lane restrictions in construction zones on Interstate 70 and other highways around the state will be lifted to accommodate holiday travel for the Memorial Day Weekend.
-
Letters delivered
Several positions will be eliminated this summer at the Terre Haute mail processing facility as the U.S. Postal Service begins moving the operation to Indianapolis, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman has confirmed.
-
Companies seek Vigo tax abatements
Two Vigo County companies are seeking tax abatements for expansion projects, one of which is included as part of a county incentive package.
-
High-speed chase suspect caught in West Virginia
The suspect in a cross-country, high-speed chase originating in Terre Haute last week was reportedly in federal custody Thursday evening.
-
Second victim of deadly I-70 semi-trailer crash identified
The Vigo County Coroner’s Office has identified the passenger of a semi-tractor crash on May 16 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 12-mile marker.
-
Brazil remembers a Fallen Son
A small town seemed sadly quiet Wednesday, waiting to honor a local fallen warrior.
- More News Headlines
-
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Man in Crane at Texas College Says He's Armed
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery
Raw Video: Deadly Explosion at Minn. Paper Mill
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Romney Promises World's Strongest Military
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Obama Pays Tribute to Vietnam Veterans
Beryl Knocks Out Power in Florida
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Memorial Day Aboard Intrepid
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Hamster Plays Dead
Beyonce Shows Off 60 Pound Weight Loss at Concert
Drunk Women Breaking Into Houses: A New Trend?
LeAnn Rimes Rocks Short Shorts
Gordon Ramsay Carried Off Field
Man Dies Getting Lap Dance
Kim Kardashian Claims Items Stolen from Her Luggage
Bear cools off in Calif. family's pool
Ep. 3: Chopped Desserts
Air Force dad surprises family at baseball game
Justin Bieber Wanted for Questioning for L.A. Scuffle
J.Lo and Marc's Friendly Reunion
Jet makes emergency landing after debris falls off
Cynthia Nixon Ties the Knot
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump
Keira Reveals Engagement Ring
Dog runs alonside cyclists for 1,100 miles
