Coppes Commons holds multiple shops and eateries in downtown Nappanee.

Text and Photos
By Loren Shaum
Guest Columnist

NAPPANEE — The area that is now Nappanee was once a large marshland where Native Americans hunted and fished. Because of the swamp, early settlers established the town of Locke further north in the 1830’s

In 1874, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad came through and routed the rail through the marshes. The Locke-Union Depot was built, and soon the Locke-Union Road brought settlers from Locke to be near the railroad, and the town of “Napanee” after the Algonquin word for “flour,” was established in 1874. The name appeared as “Nappanee” on the initial town survey, and it became the youngest town in Elkhart County.

The Coppes, Zook and Mutschler mill started in 1875, making the town a major logging community and the center for furniture and cabinets.

Today, Nappanee is a vibrant industrial hub with recreational vehicle operations and many small businesses. With over 6,000 residents, Amish, Mennonite, Dunkard and Brethren communities dominate the surrounding farm lands.

The Housour family farm, where I spent much of my early childhood, is about 11-miles north. My old-order Mennonite grandmother was a Whistler — a name common in and around Nappanee.

Downtown Nappanee

Market Street (US 6) has several interesting places to visit and Main Street Roasters must be on any visitor’s agenda. Often the line to the ordering counter is so long, folks go elsewhere. Regardless. it is an extraordinary place.

Coppes Commons is in the original circa 1876 Coppes cabinet factory building. There are multiple shops available where folks can mosey for hours, if you like. I have fond memories of this venue. For a couple years, I participated with other chefs in a fundraiser dinner for the Family Christian Development Center’s “Come to the Table” event. We served small plates to over 300 guests in the upstairs event center.

The Steakhouse at The Barnes mac and cheese is a classic comfort food.

A block west of Main Street is Ruhe 152. It’s a brewery, distillery and fabulous bistro. Their lobster roll is a special treat, and they invariably have at least 14 house-made beers on tap. Their “kicked by a mule” lager is special.

If that’s not enough, check-out Main Street. Just north of Market Street is John’s Butcher Shop. This iconic butchery has been in the same location since 1941. It is a throwback! Owner, Marlin Miller, once contributed bacon for my dish at one of the FCDC events. Their smoked pork chops are one of the best, and their Polish sausage is also top-shelf.

If sweets are your thing, try Veni’s Sweet Shop on the corner. It’s an old-time venue with original display cases, many nostalgic artifacts, and the best fudge in these parts. Their chocolate-covered cherries are also special.

Further south on Market is Renee’s Family Breakfast, which is always crowded. If you are lucky enough, capture a seat at the window counter so you can watch people, cars, trucks and buggies cruise by. On one cold winter day (It was 16-degrees!), we settled by the window, and soon an Amish gentleman rolled-in on his bicycle. Despite the weather, this dude would not be denied! He ordered five eggs, several sausages, hash browns and multiple toast slices. While slamming all this grub, he also quaffed at least a quart of coffee.

Next door is the ever-popular Hunter’s Hideaway — a local dive bar of sorts that is very popular with the factory crowd! The food is not bad either.

The Barnes At Nappanee

This property goes back to 1839, when the first Amish family in the county settled near the swamp in the southwest corner of Elkhart County. They claimed about 80-acres of land and later used windmills to drain parts of the swamp.

After many owners the property deteriorated, but in 1969, local business man, Richard Pletcher, purchased the property and formulated a plan to recreate Amish life of long ago. He hired architect, Bob Holdeman, who attended Concord High School with us and was a good friend, to create a master plan. Buildings were resurrected, and Amish Acres opened in 1970. It would become one of the most visited attractions in Indiana.

The property went up for auction in 2020 and a group of investors led by Marlin Stutzman purchased the property and revitalized the venue.

Today, the Stutzman Brothers Steakhouse in one of the barns features beef from their family farm near Howe Indiana, and the Round Barn Theatre continues to draw crowds.

Country Café

Just west of The Barns, hang a right onto Tomahawk Drive. About a mile down the road is the Dutch Village Restaurant. Famous for their hearty breakfasts and the ever popular “mushSwiss” burger, this rural oasis features all things that locals love.

East of town there is even more adventures. The Nappanee Bakery & Treat Shoppe has sweets to satisfy any palate. If that is not enough, south of town on CR 56 is the Sis & Me Bakery, and near Locke is a Rise ‘N Roll Store that is always busy!

It will take more than a day to explore everything Nappanee has to offer, so plan accordingly. It is certainly a delightful destination!

The breakfast sandwich at Renee’s Family Breakfast is a hardy breakfast.