The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-08
CLUBSANDCAFESGR0WI
INDICATIONS OF EXISTENCE OF A
"NIGHT CROWD" IN HIS CITY.
University Club Preparing to Extend
Denison House Cafe Coming
Out Into the Light.

Visitors TO this city, particularly persons
connected with the theatrical profession,
who are especially apt at observation along
this line. have often remarked that In
dianapoIis is notably a city Of homes"
and has little of what, in want Of a better
name, is called a might crowd" The lack
OF this element. it is pointed out. is partly
responsible for the lack Of large restaurants
In this city. A might crowd may be de-
scribed, though somewhat indefinitely. as
an element that is faithful to the theaters
and makes a habit Of going to cafes or
clubs after a performance. Most Indian
apolis theatergoers hurry home after the
'last curtain" as il IL o'clock were a very
late hour to be out.
1t was this fact that made some Of the
wise ones doubt the success of vaudeville
I'm this city when the Grand Opera House
let it's stock company go and was leased
10 Max Anderson. of Cincinnati. to be used
as a vaudeville theater. The wise ones said
that vaudeville fourishes only in a city
where there is a large element of habltual
theatergoers. who seek vaudeville as a re-
freshmsnt after too much Of the serious
drama" Nevertheless, last season I. the
Grand Opera House was profitable. and
with more ambitious bookings this season
Is expected TO be even more prosperous.
When the big electric sign Vaudeville
hung In front of the Grand last sea-
son one man remarked. a little taste of
State street or Old Broadway"
With the growth of the city more and
more prominent business men are staying
down town for their noon luncheon. Most
OF them have patrOpized the Commercial,
Columbia or University Club cafes, though
the venerable Sherman's restaurant on
South Meridian street. which has disap-
peared. had its clientele Of staid lawyers
ard commercial men that had eaten there
at noon for MANY wears. The smaller res
taurants are crowded at noon With men
employed In the business section OF the
city that have not the time TO go home.
DENISON CAFE TO COME OUT.
One of the evidences of the growth OF the
"night crowd'-and the day crowds
that the Denison Hotel is preparing to bid
for more business at its cafe. The cafe
of this hotel is now at the rear Of the
lobby and has no other entrance from the
street. It's position is too secluded. and
the proprietors of the hotel will move II.
The tenant OF the room two doors north
of the PennSylyania-street entrance To the
hotel has moved out and 1t is being changed
into quarters for the cafe. The wall
separating this room from the writing
room of the hotel just behind has been
pierced. a wall Is to be built cutting off the
old writing room from the rest of the hotel.
Decorators are at work on the ceiling and
announces that an English grille room
and cafe" will be opened soon.
Inc brOllerS VIII be situated against the
rear wall OF the cafe In full sight OF the
patrons. The room will be deliberately
decorated and furnished. and with its Penn
sylVania-street front Is expected 10 attract
many persons or after theater parties OF
men and women that heretofore have not
patronized the Denison's cafe because of
its being ont OF the way. The present cafe
room will he used for the writing room.
The Indiana Hotel Company. represented
BY Henry w; Lawrence. which is now the
proprietor OF English's Hotel. has made
extensive improvements. When The bar was
across the theatcr's Lobby from the hotel
Office its business Suffered because many
men did not care 10 be seen entering the
bar by the theater's patrons. The bar l.
now behind the office of the hotel i'm part
or the space formerly occupied by the
dining room. The dining room IS IN the east
part OF the hotel just behind the cafe. Mr..
Lawrence and the hotels steward have
been hard az work improving the service
will make a renewed effort to Dlease after
theater supper parties this winter. This
cafe has an advantage because OF its near
ness TO Erglish's Opera House.
The restaurants on Illinois street are
patronized almost entirely by men. June's
serves many theatrical people at midnight
because OF their acquaintance with George
and Homer June. who formerly were In the
theatrical business.
UNIVERSITY CLUBS GROWTH.
The Columbia Clubs new home and It's
great Inducements TO those OF its members
that dine away from home have been fully
described. This clubs prosperity is as
sured. Now the University Club Is pre-
pairing 20 meet the enlarged demands made
upon It. The building committee is only
waiting word from "A special finance com
nittee 10 let contracts for an addition 10
the clubs home at Meridian and Michigan
streets. II the finance committee saws US
the building viii BE- extended toward the
west. At present the club has only two
sleeping rooms. and both are occupied. The
new plans viii give eight more members
OF the club lodging. and besides will sup
ply a new billiard room and permit the
kitchen 10 spread out a bit.
The University club has an Intellectual,
quasi literary atmosphere into which poll
tics never intrudes. After the thcater a
considerable string OF carriages may be
seen IN front OF the clubhouse and the
voices OF merry narties i'm the cafe NAV
be heard. The interior Is exceptionallv
QUIET In tone. The Japanese servants slim
about noiselessly and there is "A rcstful
hush through the rooms. This condition
has attracted men 10 the club. and its
future H. very bright.
All these Improvements will be taken as
significant OF a growing metropolitanfsm.
or. to use the word popularity and wrong
fully. Bohemianism-as indications that
this city Is beginning 20 have a ''nicn,
crowd" like other cities or its size tha,
have gone ahead iu this direction faster
paper has said this city Is. the Boston of
the Mississippi valley"