A popular southern Indiana brewery and restaurant is coming to Franklin, replacing an eatery that is set to close.
Big Woods restaurant is planning to open at the Hillview Country Club off of King Street near Interstate 65. At the same time, Scotty’s Brew Club, which opened at the golf course last year, is set to close. The restaurant, which is owned by the Scotty’s Brewhouse chain of restaurants, will end its lease at the end of the year after the chain was purchased by another company, according to the Hillview Country Club.
Big Woods Franklin is set to open next spring. The restaurant was first founded in Nashville in 2009 and also has locations in Bloomington and Speedway.
Hillview Country Club is the perfect location, and Big Woods already has fans in the area, Big Woods founding partner Jeff McCabe said. Hillview has renovated its clubhouse, restaurant area, banquet facilities and swimming pool since being purchased by local businessmen Pete Grimmer, Jim Admire and Max Woodbury in 2012.
“We have great admiration for the million-dollar renovation they have completed at Hillview,” Big Woods chief executive officer Ed Ryan said in a news release. “It’s a beautiful, well-designed facility, with a timber lodge look and feel that works for our brand. We think the timing is right for us to bring Big Woods to Franklin.”
Grimmer said in a news release that he and his wife have long been fans of Big Woods and are excited to bring that experience to Franklin.
Getting ready to open should take about 60 days, with Big Woods Franklin opening in the early spring of 2017, McCabe said.
The restaurant will be open to club members and the general public.
The menu will feature traditional Big Woods offerings, such as its varieties of smoked meats and pulled pork nachos, McCabe said. Drinks will include craft beers from the Quaff ON! Brewing Co. and spirits from Hard Truth Distilling Co., which were also opened by the founders of Big Woods.
