Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb didn’t choose just any location to reveal a big broadband infrastructure expansion on Thursday — he chose one of his favorite restaurants in the Hoosier state, The Brick.
Stopping in for lunch at the Jonesville restaurant and bar at lunch time, Holcomb wasn’t shy about revealing that the restaurant is among his choices for top burger joints in Indiana, all listed on his phone.
Holcomb stopped at the restaurant while on his way to St. Meinrad, in Perry County, to announce $22.1 million in state funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects in Indiana — including one in Bartholomew County.
He stopped in at the Brick on the way and ordered a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, pickle and grilled onion and side of chips and a Sprite.
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“I love this place,” Holcomb said as he settled into a wood booth, the one nearest the front door. “I love places like The Brick all over Indiana.”
Only a couple people actually recognized Holcomb as the governor visiting for lunch, with one woman speaking up to ask him where he was headed.
Earlier in the week, the governor’s staff had called to say the highlight of Holcomb’s week would be stopping at The Brick on his way to the press conference announcing the broadband projects.
Part of the first round of the governor’s $100 million Next Level Broadband program, the broadband infrastructure program seeks to provide unserved areas with broadband internet connections with up to one-gigabyte download and upload speeds.
The seven service providers who received funding to carry out the projects will invest a combined $14 million in the projects, raising the total level of funding for the projects to $36.1 million. The funding is expected to provide broadband infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and business in 12 counties, Holcomb said.
Miles Communication Corp. was awarded $2.8 million with a company match of $2.9 million for broadband infrastructure projects in Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby Counties, according to the governor’s office.
Holcomb said the broadband infrastructure projects will “unlock pent-up rural potential” to, among other things, expand business and economic opportunities, educational opportunities, workforce development program access and telemedicine access.
“We became known as the Crossroads of America as part of that federal highway system,” Holcomb said. “…Almost 100 years later, I don’t want to just be the Crossroads of America, I want to be the crossroads of the cosmos. And that means how do we connect in every way, and certainly the internet is just as necessary as our interstate system is.”
But at The Brick, Holcomb was focusing on connecting with the taste of a cheeseburger that he has learned to love. While Holcomb’s presence came as a surprise to The Brick customers, it isn’t his first time that the governor had eaten at the iconic restaurant.
A restaurant employee, Brenda Moore, who has worked at the Brick for 22 years, promptly greeted Holcomb, saying, “Back again, aren’t you?”
“The last time (I was at The Brick) was probably within a year ago,” Holcomb said. “I just heard about it forever, and last year, I stopped in and now, when I’m close, I’m going to suggest this place.”
Calling the visit to The Brick the “highlight of his week” is “no exaggeration,” Holcomb said.
The governor likes going to restaurants similar to The Brick across the state because of the environment, food and because they’re a “reminder of the urban, suburban and rural complexion of the state of Indiana.”
“You hear from folks in an unfiltered way, in an impromptu way,” he said. “So you’re not being spun when you’re being briefed. This is where folks just to get to tell you what’s on their mind right now. So that’s always a kind of the best part of making sure you get out from behind the desk because you hear up-to-date concerns from Hoosiers.”
When asked what his favorite burger joints in the state, Holcomb took out his cell phone.
“I do keep a list,” he said.
“I’ve been keeping a list of where to get the best pot roast sandwich, where to get the best steaks, where to get the best hot dogs or corn dogs, where to get the best barbecue, where to get the best breaded tenderloin, where to get the best ice cream, donuts, cheeseburgers, fried chicken. By the way, Kramer’s (Restaurant) (in Columbus) is on that best fried chicken list,” Holcomb added.
The list of his favorite non-franchised burger joints includes The Brick, Workingman’s Friend in Indianapolis, The Lemon Drop in Anderson, Triple XXX in West Lafayette, Hinkle’s Sandwich Shop in Madison, Brown Bike Eatery and Drinkery in Nashville, Shipley’s Tavern in Madison, among many others.
“I eat my way across the state of Indiana, I’ll tell you that,” Holcomb said. “I don’t miss any meals.”
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Gov. Eric Holcomb said he keeps a list of his favorite restaurants across the state, including his favorite non-franchised burger joints.
Here are some of the places on his list:
- The Brick in Jonesville
- Workingman’s Friend in Indianapolis
- The Lemon Drop in Anderson
- Triple XXX in West Lafayette
- Hinkle’s Sandwich Shop in Madison
- Brown Bike Eatery and Drinkery in Nashville
- Shipley’s Tavern in Madison
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On Thursday, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced $22.1 million in state funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects in Indiana — including Bartholomew County.
The infrastructure projects are part of the first round of the governor’s $100 million Next Level Broadband program, which seeks to provide unserved areas with broadband internet connections with up to one-gigabyte download and upload speeds, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
The seven service providers who received funding to carry out the projects will invest a combined $14 million in the projects, raising the total level of funding for the projects to $36.1 million. The funding is expected to provide broadband infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and business in 12 counties, Holcomb said.
Miles Communication Corporation was awarded $2.8 million with a company match of $2.9 million for broadband infrastructure projects in Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby Counties, according to the governor’s office.
Visit in.gov/ocra/nlc.htm for more information.
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