North Side - South Bend, IN Area Guide

In the 1820s South Bend came into existence as a fur-trading town, and the town’s growth coincided with the establishment and growth of Notre Dame University in the 1840s. The area was also known as an industrial center, with companies like Studebaker and Singer Sewing locating here. Today the area has become known primarily for Notre Dame, which remains the largest employer in the city. Residents and visitors enjoy the wide variety of museums in the area. The Snite Museum of Art located on the campus of Notre Dame remains one of the favorites. Featuring more than 27,000 works of art, this free museum showcases fine art from all over the world. Discover the history of the city with the architectural walking tours, try out the outdoor summer film festival or stop by various downtown stores on the first Friday of each month, when special events and live entertainment fill the downtown area.

Because of the neighborhood’s proximity to the University of Notre Dame, residents enjoy a wide variety of culinary flavors. For Chinese food, locals love going to J.W. Chens. This locally owned restaurant and catering company features authentic Chinese food made with no MSG. Customers enjoy frequently being waited on by the owner and chef herself and they rave about the cozy, friendly atmosphere in addition to the excellent food. Try the moo shoo pork, and enjoy the handmade pancake wraps. If it’s your first visit, don’t be surprised if Jean comes out with a complimentary dish for you to try. For a German experience, head on over to Weiss’ Gasthaus, where the background music makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into Deutschland. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, this establishment blends classic German cuisine with American tastes. Try the German potato pancakes, a bratwurst sample platter or grilled chicken over spaetzle. Customers also enjoy the large selection of German beer. When you get a craving for good Italian food, the place to go has to be Toscana Pizza and Pasta. Known for its authentic thin crust Chicago-style pizza, Toscana also serves pasta made with homemade sauces. With recipes passed down from Italian immigrant grandparents, you know you’re getting the real deal when you eat at Toscana. Legends of Notre Dame continues to be the popular place for late night fun. Located right on campus, the University-owned restaurant also serves the general public. Featuring late night hours every night except Sunday, customers enjoy live entertainment and dancing on the weekends. Legends has an extensive wine and beer list, including a large craft brew selection and 24 taps.

The Outer East neighborhood sits around the Indiana Toll Road 80/90. State Route 933 runs through the west side of the area, which provides direct access to the downtown city center. Thanks to Business Route 20, residents have easy access to the neighboring towns in the Michiana area, as well as convenient access to Lake Michigan and Chicago. Drivers have no problems finding public parking, with business and restaurants offering plenty of lots. Residents find having a car comes in handy in this neighborhood. For those who don’t, the city’s public transportation option Transpo runs routes from downtown South Bend up to Notre Dame and over to the mall. With 17 routes, including a midnight express route that goes all around the campuses, residents can easily get around town. Several taxi companies serve the area, as does the app-based business Uber. The area has many biking lanes and bike-friendly roads, and the campuses of both Notre Dame and St. Mary’s provide many routes for bikers to ride. Cyclists also enjoy riding the Riverside Trail along the picturesque St. Joseph River.

The city of South Bend maintains over 50 parks, several of them located in the Outer East and North area. Some of them are undeveloped grasslands along the river, while others like Pinhook Park include playgrounds, a volleyball court, fishing areas and picnic tables. Keller Park, just across the river from St. Mary’s, features picnic tables, a playground, a softball field and four tennis courts. While the city does not maintain any dog parks, leashed dogs enjoy going for a walk in any of the city parks. The city runs various activities throughout the year, including the summer Sunday night concerts at Potawatomi Park, the annual Senior Community Olympics and the Family Passport to Play program, which provides activities for families to get outside and exercise while enjoying the parks.

Residents find living in the South Bend area a great bargain. The cost of living in the area sits 7 percent lower than the state average and 19 percent lower than the nation. The average one-bedroom apartment costs residents $559 a month. Gas prices run 1 percent lower than the national average, 3 percent lower than the state average. Customers can enjoy an Irish draft at Legends for only $3.50. Riding the Transpo from the Notre Dame area to downtown takes just over 15 minutes and costs $1.

With Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College and Bethel College all located so close, it comes as no surprise that book lovers have their choice of great bookstores to check out. Hammes Bookstore is the classic Notre Dame store on campus, and here you can find books, textbooks and all the Irish-themed paraphernalia you could want. If you head downtown, the cozy Erasmus Books sells both used and new books. Located in the basement and first floor of the owners’ home, visitors can find children’s books, poetry, fiction, and even rare and first edition books. The last bookstore on the list, Griffon Bookstore, also sells board games and role-playing games, and it features game nights on Fridays.Stay in downtown South Bend for more unique shopping options or stay back around the northeast part of town. Head over to Christopher Allan Jewelers for your jewelry and accessory needs. Selling all sorts of men's and women's jewelry from necklaces to watches, this reasonably priced store also will purchase your unwanted jewelry and precious metals. The main shopping center sits four miles to the east of the neighborhood along Grape Road. Here residents spend time at the large University Park Mall, which includes national chains such as Barnes & Noble, Macy’s and the Disney store. Other national chain restaurants and stores can also be found on Grape Road as it continues south. The local grocery stores include Meijer, Aldi, Whole Foods, Martin's, and Wal-Mart. The historic South Bend Farmer's Market can be found two miles south of Notre Dame, along the banks of the St. Joseph River. In operation for nearly a century, the market operates three days a week, year-round.