Griffith’s Central Park is a downtown hub for quiet picnics, playground fun or a peaceful stroll, but on Fridays it transforms into a livelier space.
Central Market (600 N. Broad St., 219-484-6667, www.griffithcentralmarket.blogspot.com) blends many local vendors, food trucks, music and local craft beer into a 6-hour weekly festival. Residents and visitors can catch up with neighbors and friends, and sample a rotation of treats, including pierogies, grilled cheese and barbecue.
Central Market is where the town’s long-time businesses mix with its newest offerings.
The market is both the best way to wind down the week or the perfect prelude to One Fine Day in the town.
Morning
It’s well known that the fish are biting in the morning and Griffith’s Fish A While Lakes (1447 S. Broad St., 219-865-1234, www.fishawhilelakes.com) is the place to take advantage of that.
Just off South Broad Street, minutes from downtown, Fish A While Lakes has four fully stocked ponds for anglers to cast a line. Amateur anglers can catch to keep or catch and release their choice of catfish, carp or bass at the ponds.
Once the fish and anglers have gotten their fill, a quick breakfast is just a short drive away.
Due north on Ridge Road, Griffith diners can grab breakfast at Jedi’s Garden (444 W. Ridge Road, 219-923-9055) nestled in Griffith’s retail corridor. The long-standing restaurant features Greek, Italian and American cuisine. Jedi’s is well-known for its all day breakfast.
For those looking for a quick bite, Grindhouse Cafe (146 N. Broad St., 219-595-5678, facebook.com/GrindhouseCoffee) has coffees, teas and specialty drinks as well as a wide menu for a grab-and-go snack.
As the morning winds down, many of Griffith’s downtown shops are starting to open their doors.
Buyers and window shoppers have plenty of places to check out, many long-time mainstays and new ventures.
Blythe’s Sport Shop (138 N. Broad St., 219-924-4403, www.blythesgungear.com), long an anchor of Griffith’s downtown, and Varsity Sports (134 N. Broad St., 219-924-5110, varsitysportsin.com) can fill the needs of any outdoors enthusiasts and weekend warriors.
Along the intersection of Broad and Main streets, visitors can check out shops offering a variety of wares.
G & G Hobbies (105 E. Main St., 219-924-6686, facebook.com/GG-Hobbies-Inc-146385882223818/) fills the needs of any model plane or remote-control enthusiast; Renovar (100 S. Broad St., 219-961-8333, www.renovardesign.com) can fill any household void with a unique furnishing or piece of decor; Region Records (212 E. Main St., 219-427-7379, www.facebook.com/RockGoesTheEasel) can help out any audiophile with a vintage LP, CD or cassette; and Creative Comics (216 E. Main St., 219-924-1600, www.facebook.com/CreativeComicsStore) will be more than helpful to connect any reader with the right comic book.
Afternoon
Set ‘Em Up Lanes and Lounge (135 N. Broad St., 219-924-3181, www.setemuplanes.com) is a great venue to take a break from the routine and bowl a few rounds. The eight-lane bowling alley remains busy throughout the day with bowlers, but also with people looking to grab a bite to eat inside the lounge or on the expansive outdoor patio.
There’s no shortage of places in Griffith to grab a quick lunch in between activities. Griffith Gyros and More (105 N. Broad St., 219-513-6455, facebook.com/pages/Griffith-Gyros-and-More/604818366339124), TD’s Express Pizza (239 N. Broad St., 219-922-7901, facebook.com/pages/Tds-Express-Pizza/113405522026634) and Asada Grill and Cantina (216 S. Broad St., 219-934-0400, www.facebook.com/asadabarandgrill) are all right downtown, while farther north on Ridge Road, Aurelio’s Pizza (112 E. Ridge Road, 219-838-3700, www.aureliospizza.com/locations/griffith) features a lunch buffet.
Recreational opportunities are available throughout the town and many programs for kids and adults are offered through the Griffith YMCA (201 N. Griffith Blvd., 219-750-1082, griffithymca.org/). Families can find any number of opportunities through sports leagues, special events and fitness facilities.
Griffith’s Parks and Recreation Department (111 N. Broad St., 219-922-3078, griffith.in.gov/portal/group/parks-and-recreation) maintains a number of places throughout the town where people can get outside and enjoy a summer day, including Central Park, Cheever Park and Woodland Park. All those public spaces feature playgrounds for kids, courts for a pickup game of basketball or tennis and benches and picnic tables to simply enjoy getting outside.
Evening
Among the newest additions to Griffith’s nightlife is Twincade (108 N. Board St., 219-237-9980, www.twincade.com).
The spacious bar and restaurant’s tables are flanked by vintage pinball and arcade games, including Frogger, Super Mario Brothers, Mortal Kombat and Dig Dug. The games offer nostalgia for adults and new wonders for kids who have scarcely seen the boxed consoles of days past.
Twincade’s worth the time to drop some tokens but also check out a selection of craft beer and a menu offering new takes on traditional appetizers, tacos and handcrafted pizzas.
If the flashing lights and sounds of an arcade aren’t what people are looking for, Bridges’ Scoreboard Restaurant and Sports Bar (121 N. Griffith Boulevard, 219-924-2206, www.bridgesscoreboard.com) is just around the block from Twincade.
The family-owned bar and restaurant is a place for diners and drinkers to catch most any sporting event on in the TV-lined bar. Bridges’ calendar offers a variety of specials, events and local music. Bridges’ food, especially the pizza, is worth a visit.
For those looking to sample local craft beer, Griffith is home to a trio of local breweries in a number of styles, including German, Polish and American. New Oberpfalz (121 E. Main St., 219-513-9341, www.newoberpfalz.com), Pokro (311 N. Broad St., 219-924-7950, www.pokrobrewing.com) and Wildrose (1104 E. Main St., 219-595-5054, www.wildrosebrewing.com) all give a chance to try something new.
The recently launched Space Revival (132 N. Broad St., 219-595-5678, facebook.com/spacerevival219), gives Griffith residents and visitors a unique slate of events. Started by the owners of Grindhouse Cafe, Space Revival programs include bands and weekly pop-up shops.
