Visitors continue to flock to Downtown Elkhart

Through all of its stages of growth, Downtown Elkhart and its stores, restaurants, venues, and other businesses continue to attract tourists and local residents. The marketing campaign, “Do Downtown Elkhart,” highlights these businesses and the heart of Elkhart.

“Downtown Elkhart has a tremendous density of restaurants, all different styles of cuisines, shopping, arts, and cultural venues, along with fun activities for families and people of all ages,” said Terry Mark, director of communications & public relations for Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)

The summer is the perfect time to experience Downtown Elkhart’s wide array of outdoor attractions.

“We have the Riverwalk, which is gorgeous, and downtown parks and trails that people can enjoy,” Mark said.

Many foodies, local or visiting, enjoy visiting Downtown Elkhart.

“Downtown Elkhart has great restaurants,” Mark said. “Everything from craft breweries to fine dining to ice cream shops and great coffee.”

When choosing a space for its third location, Purely Pressed, an Indiana-based health cafe, chose Downtown Elkhart because of its strategic growth, development, and the supportive business community.

“David Weaver and the incredible team at philanthropic investment firm WeIMPACT had a beautiful vision for Downtown Elkhart,” said Ryan Blake, co-owner of Purely Pressed. “At Purely Pressed, we were excited and continue to be excited to play a part in bringing that vision to life.”

Other restaurants and cafes downtown include The Vine, Essence Bar + Restaurant, The Electric Brew, Osteria Amici, Old Style Deli, and Relish Cafe.

Downtown Elkhart doesn’t stop at restaurants, but embraces art and culture as well.

“Downtown Elkhart is home to The Lerner Theater, Midwest Museum of American Art, boutiques, galleries, the National New York Central Railroad Museum on the south end of downtown, Wellfield Botanic Gardens, and the Ruthmere Mansion and Havilah Beardsley House,” Mark said.

Stephenson’s of Elkhart has nearly a 100-year history, originally opening in Elkhart during the Great Depression as a women’s fashion retail shop. Today, it offers a wide-array of clothing for men and women, including formal and bridal fashion.

“Stephenson’s is proud to be at the heart of beautiful and vibrant downtown Elkhart,” said Danny Reynolds, owner of Stephenson’s. “To this day, our story continues right where it started on Main Street.”

Beacon Health & Aquatics is a hub for fitness in Downtown Elkhart. Its Downtown Elkhart location is one of the three Beacon Health & Fitness locations in Michiana.

On August 29, Downtown Elkhart will host the second Celebration Under the Stars, which is one of the biggest events of the summer. This year, the concert features Boys II Men and The Jacksons. Additional information about this concert can be found at https://thelerner.com/event/celebration-under-the-stars-2026/.

Between the variety of different businesses and sights in Downtown Elkhart, the vibe is always at a high point during the summer season.

“There’s great energy downtown,” Mark said. “It’s been growing, and merchants and people who live downtown really sense that energy. They want to be a part of it and continue to invest.”

To plan a trip to Downtown Elkhart or learn more about it, visit dodowntownelkhart.com. For more information on the Elkhart County CVB, you can visit visitelkhartcounty.com.