Our Story
NOTE: We've heard some rumblings from governmental agencies regarding my use of the phrase "gutting the building down to bare walls." For those of you that haven't been here, the walls of our old building ARE bare. I apologize if my artistic license in using this phrase has caused any undue concern as to whether we did or didn't do anything wrong in the eyes of the building inspector. We did no structural or major systems work to the Anvil Inn, and -- having been a licensed general contractor for many years -- I'm well aware that changing out carpet, adding a coat of paint, etc., does not require permits. Our apologies for the editorial comment inserted prior to you being able to read our story, but you know how it is. Carry on...
As a child, chef/owner Kimberli Baker ate frequently at the Anvil Inn with her family. Long-time Cicero residents, Kim’s family felt a special affinity for this restaurant – housed in an historic former blacksmith shop, built in 1834 – as great grandfather, Louis Haddox, was a blacksmith himself in Henryville, Indiana, at the turn of the century. When they left Cicero for Arizona in the late 1970s, Kim’s family made a gift of Louis’s anvil to Bob and Kathy Durst, the founders of the Anvil Inn.
Fast forward to June 2006, and Kim, married to James Dupont, owned a large real estate development firm in Phoenix, Arizona. It was then that Kim brought James to Indianapolis to see his first Indy 500 race. While in the Hoosier state, she took him to see the small heartland town where she grew up. Surprised to see that her old favorite restaurant was up for sale, Kim took James to meet the Dursts and enjoy one last dinner at the Anvil.
With a sad heart, Bob Durst told Kim and James that he had entered into a letter of intent to sell the property to Walgreens, who intended to tear down the restaurant and the adjoining 1907 Victorian home, in order to build a new drug store. After 35 years of owning the restaurant, Bob and Kathy were ready to retire but unable to find anyone who wanted to continue the dining tradition they began. Kim and James decided they weren’t ready to see the old place fall to the wrecking ball just yet, and wrote Bob a check on the spot to secure their interest in the property.
Naturally, their friends and family believed Kim and James had lost their minds, but their real dream had always been to own a restaurant, and there were too many “meant to be” aspects of the story for this not to be their destiny. Putting their construction and development background to work, Kim and James set about the daunting task of completely renovating the restaurant, literally gutting the building down to bare walls and starting over. The entire process of relocating from Arizona and completing the restoration of the restaurant took almost 18 months, but in October 2007, the gloriously and lovingly restored Anvil Inn re-opened to an enthusiastic central Indiana dining community.
And Louis Haddox’s anvil made its way back into the family. It now sits proudly in a place of honor, above the door of the dining room. Stop by and take a look on your way out!