Cunningham Restaurant Group brings farm-to-table restaurant to Discovery Park District at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A unique culinary destination will be coming to the Discovery Park District at Purdue with the Cunningham Restaurant Group (CRG) announcement of a new, farm-to-table restaurant that will be housed in a historic barn slated to be revitalized as a future community hub.

The restaurant will occupy part of the planned 10,600-square-foot, multi-use building located between Airport Road and McCutcheon Drive just off Mitch Daniels Boulevard. While the menu is still being developed, it will highlight CRG’s commitment to “local is best” and unforgettable guest dining experiences. CRG also brought Bru Burger Bar to downtown Lafayette in 2019.

"We are excited to be a part of this project in bringing farm-to-table to both a restaurant and private dining venue.  The partnership with the Purdue Agriculture program will be a perfect fit connecting us to local sourcing.  We look forward to introducing a new concept to serve the Greater Lafayette community," said Mike Cunningham, founder and CEO of Cunningham Restaurant Group.

The new facility — including restaurant, retail and event space — will be constructed using a century-old barn donated by Sonny Beck, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids. Construction will keep the character and feel of the historic barn while providing the modern structure and amenities needed for a high-capacity hospitality space.

“We as a family wanted to give something back to Purdue and we thought Beck Barn would be particularly useful as a bridge between Indiana history and its future development,” Beck said. “We’re excited to work with the Cunningham Restaurant Group to develop this icon within Discovery Park District.”

The development is part of a larger effort to fully realize the district’s master plan and will anchor an upgrade of surrounding Squirrel Park. With high sustainability aspirations and expansive green space surroundings, the project aims to set a new precedent for what hospitality spaces can offer alongside a university setting.

“From the very beginning, we’ve had the vision of creating a welcoming place to live, work, learn and play,” said Jeremy Slater, vice president of capital projects and facilities at Purdue Research Foundation. “We’re looking forward to our vision coming to life for the Greater Lafayette community with the new restaurant in the iconic Beck Barn.”

To learn more about the Beck Barn gathering space and follow along with future updates, visit the Discovery Park District website.