A new restaurant, The Vault Pub, opened in the bottom level of the Indiana Memorial Union on Sept. 1. This opening is a result of a $12.9 million renovation of IU Dining in the Indiana Memorial Union, which began in 2020.
Rahul Shrivastav, director of IU Dining, said the Vault Pub is a space that targets everyone. He said he wanted guests of IU to be able to come to a sit-down restaurant with hospitality, something he said the IMU was lacking.
Shrivastav said COVID-19 added setbacks to the renovation such as struggles staffing the restaurant and the supply chain block causing shipping delays.
“No one wanted to work in the food and beverage industry after the pandemic,” Shrivastav said.
The 70-seat restaurant is now open for faculty, students and visitors to enjoy. Shrivastav said they tried to create a menu that was local and inclusive.
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The menu features items such as Sugar and Spice cookies and sugar cream pies, Indiana meat supplier Fisher Farms, free popcorn at all the tables sourced from Jasper, Indiana and fresh corn chowder. Shrivastav said their breaded tenderloin, an Indiana classic, is one of their most popular orders so far.
The Vault Pub offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. They are also working to develop a kid’s menu.
Shrivastav said there was a lot of work with architects and designers to get the atmosphere of the Vault Pub just right. There are music posters donated by alumni, such as a signed John Mellencamp poster, and an old photo of the original basketball court in the Bill Garrett Fieldhouse. The restaurant also has a stage for bands to play on Friday nights.
“We are a university of traditions, and we are honoring that by making sure that we have snippets of the traditions and history in the space,” Shrivastav said.
Shrivastav said he wants to thank the chefs and staff of the Vault Pub for making the opening possible.
“They’ve worked night and day to get a new restaurant open,” Shrivastav said.
According to the Vault Pub website, current hours are 4-10 p.m. on Thursdays, 4 p.m.-midnight on Fridays and noon-midnight on Saturdays. They are hoping to add more hours in the near future.
