Mission-Driven Patachou Offshoot Growing

Indianapolis-based Patachou Inc. is adding more locations of its farm-to-fork restaurant. Public Greens, which sends all profits to the restaurant group’s nonprofit Patachou Foundation, will open its second location at the Fashion Mall on the city’s north side in May and a third in Cummins Inc.’s (NYSE: CMI) global distribution business headquarters in downtown Indianapolis in the summer. The cafeteria-style eatery is hiring now for the mall location, which Broad Ripple Public Greens General Manager Lizzy Street says will be a departure from the typical shopping center fare.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Street said the rising demand for local food is stoking Public Greens’ growth. "People want to know where their food comes from and we’re in a state where it’s very accessible," she said. "I feel like most of our biggest fans are fans because of our commitment to local sourcing."

The Patachou Foundation’s mission involves feeding at-risk children in the Indianapolis area who are food insecure. It was established in 2015 and has served thousands of meals to local children.

The menu at Public Greens focuses on locally-grown produce — some picked on a microfarm just across the Monon Trail from its flagship Broad Ripple location — and humanely-raised proteins in a fast-casual setting. It was launched by Martha Hoover, whose Indianapolis restaurant footprint in 30 years has grown to include multiple Café Patachou locations, the Petite Chou Bistro & Champagne Bar, multiple Napolese Artisanal Pizzeria and Wine Bars and Public Greens. You can connect to more about the restaurant group and the foundation by clicking here.