Nick's English Hut 

HISTORY 

Nick Hrisomalos was born in Greece in 1891, and had started working in Illinois at just 14. Not long after he was sent to war in Europe, and got drafted in the U.S. army, but got sick so he couldn’t fight. He caught the Spanish Flu due to the epidemic that was happening at the time. He moved around from the U.S to Europe, and in 1918 when he ended up in Bloomington he opened a small popcorn shop, and just 9 years later he had officially opened Nick’s English Hut for which he had rented out half of the building for a haberdashery. Incidentally, Herman B. Wells worked at this place before becoming the president of IU for 24 years and later on became the University's first chancellor.

Due to them opening it during Prohibition, Nick’s started as a candy and soda shop, though In 1934 they were one of the first businesses in Monroe County that got a beer and wine license.  At this point, the establishment became a bar. In 1953 Dick Barnes joined the team and brought the idea of pizzas with him. When he did this Barnes literally introduced pizza to Southern Indiana. He learned the art of making “pizza pies” from an Italian family he knew and his time spent in New York. He opened Cafe Pizzaria a few doors down from Nick’s. He bought Nick’s from the original owner in 1953 and was the one who really started expanding it.

Over the next couple decades they started to expand and add rooms. The first room they added was the Backroom, in 1965, then just 2 years later they added the first upstairs room, also known as the Attic. In 1978, 19 year old Gregg “Rags” Ragao  joined the team and started by working in the kitchen, but over the years he has grown in his job, and is now the current owner. 

However, during this process Nick’s had still been adding rooms and history. The first room they had added was the Hump Room in 1979, and then held off until 1999/2000 to gain the Hoosier Room which expanded in 2007.

In 2008, Susan Bright joined the team, and with her great skills, she became a manager of Nick’s. Having worked at Bloomingfoods for 20 years previously, Susan was able to bring in many connections with local suppliers for their food. Susan and Rags had continued their business, but also opened “Osteria Rago”, just behind Nick’s in 2018.

In the time that they’ve been open, many people have visited, such as Barack Obama, Kurt Vonnegut, John Mellencamp, and even Michael Jordan. 

ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Nick’s could definitely be called one of the most memorable restaurants in Bloomington with its unique style and many features. Oftentimes, especially during big sports events you will find the line going out the door, and crowds waiting to go in. It has been run the same for decades, and embraces tradition, while still celebrating new openings. Another attraction that brings in many customers is Sink The Biz. It is a game that is very often played before IU games, graduation, and other exciting events. The game is played by having a Bismarck glass in a bucket. The bucket is filled with certain drinks so that the glass floats, and then with each turn someone pours a drink of their choice is to the glass cup, taking turns until it eventually sinks, and whoever sinks it is supposed to drink the entire glass, and then start the next round. It was started by staff workers to bring engagement and fun to Nicks.

They often screen football and basketball games which bring a lot of attention, though they also cater for the Little 500, and even have their own sponsored team. IU also has some other correlation with Nick’s, and not just through sports. As previously mentioned, Herman B. Wells had worked there, and they have other places where they sell around IU.  Once Susan Bright had joined they gained connection and access to local farmers, and found better resources for their product.