South Bend/Granger Residents: Sell me on moving my family there

[BeauBenken]

I don’t understand how Fort Wayne can’t get that or Zaxby’s. If Funcie has one and Lafayette, Noblesville, and Mishawaka do, why not The Fort?

Cane’s is legit. Cane’s sauce is money and I think their tenders are the best out there. I like my chicken tenders like my women: thick & juicy. The menu is basic. Tenders. Fries. Bread. Coleslaw. Some folks like to make sandwiches with the tenders, bread, and sauce. It’s all pretty legit, but you really have to be in the mood for chicken tenders bc that’s all they do. I’d rank it marginally ahead of Zaxby’s and way ahead of Popeye’s.

What is the sauce go-to?

 

[forkbeard3777]

My wife and I are both graduates and practicing Catholics. We would have the chance to teach at the university and are drawn to Catholic intellectual community there. We have 3 boys (3, 2, and newborn) and I currently work as a physician on an island with a near-tropical climate (you may wonder why we'd consider moving back!).

Aside from the university itself, what do you like about living there? House prices (at least near the university) have gotten really high - and we know someone who was shot just off Notre Dame Ave. Winter weather is terrible. What keeps you there? What is there to do for young children in the winter time? How would you sell it to me? South Bend or Granger?

Foremost, if the job opportunity is great, you'll make it work. You'll make anything work, if you catch my drift.

In regard to housing, I've never been to that area, maybe someone here can chime in, but are there any nicer homes within waking distance to Notre Dame's campus? The schools that I've attended or visited, generally, had very nice homes and established neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the universities. That, assuming it's an option, would be your best best, in my opinion.

If not, again, I've never visited the area, but I'd at least be looking at somewhere along the lake (just looking at Google Maps: Michigan City, New Buffalo, St. Joseph). That said, I'm the type that will always spend more (within reason) to avoid a commute / traffic. However, it may not be that big of a deal in that area.

Lastly, given your age, profession, and children, this may not be too big of a deal, but you'd need to ask yourself if you'd get tired of being entrenched in the "campus" and "college setting." Basically, I grew up in New Orleans -- not too far at all from Loyola and Tulane. New Orleans doesn't feel like a college town at all as there are simply so, so many other things to do and see. Ole Miss will be playing Tulane this year at Yulman Stadium in Uptown and you'll never even realize it. However, I attended undergrad at LSU, and I was extremely eager to get out of Baton Rouge and the campus setting my last year. The entire city, largely, is centered and revolves around it. It's what all the residents discuss (LSU athletics) and all events are centered around it. I needed a change of scenery (and Baton Rouge sucks). Personally, it would just get old to me...living in strictly a college town (Oxford, Athens, Clemson, and so on). But again, South Bend may not be solely a college town, and with young kids and whatnot, it may not be too big of a deal.

 

[forkbeard3777]

What is the sauce go-to?

They only have one sauce -- it's heavy and creamy. Basically, a mixture of mayo, ketchup, Worcestershire, black pepper, and garlic powder. It's good. I love the Texas toast with it. It's fairly easy to duplicate.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

If you have the opportunity to teach at Notre Dame (which, congrats, that a pretty great opportunity), do you have the opportunity to teach at other top-tier universities? I assume you’re not making this choice in a vacuum. It probably would depend at least somewhat on where else you’re weighing.

That said with three young kids, cost of living/housing is a real factor, and while I’m sure home prices immediately around campus have gone up from where they once were, South Bend in general still a very affordable housing market compared to most big cities and many college towns.

With regard to bolded, honestly they probably don't even if they have world-level sterling credentials. The academic job hiring market is probably the most competitive one in the US. Getting a single tenure track offer from anywhere, let alone one of the top 20 universities in America, is incredibly difficult. Shoot, getting a job offer at an "okay" state school after completing a PhD at Harvard is a really, really good outcome. Unless you are literally a Nobel Prize level scholar, you aren't going to be in a situation where you are choosing between, say, Notre Dame, Berkeley, Duke, etc. Getting a single offer from a high-level university is life-changing, and profoundly difficult.

 

[Blazers46]

Boat in st joe you say 😝

Don’t we all?

Elkhart is really nice as well in certain parts. My future in-laws have a place on the river there and it’s beautiful

Elkhart is okay. I’m originally from Elkhart and promised I’d never move back. Granger is close enough lol. You have to be very picky about Elkhart. I’ll preface this by saying I don’t mind Hispanics because I lived in Las Cruces NM for 10 years but the Elkhart version of Hispanics is very poor/lower middle class. They have all but taken over the whole city on my opinion. Every time I go to the planet fitness in Elkhart it’s 80% Hispanic.

 

[Blazers46]

What should I know about Raising Cane's? Muncie just got one...

If you are a fan of the sauce it’s alright but they are a one trick sauce. I used to go get the fingers then get sauce at Chick Fil A when CFA was my retail neighbor. Canes Fingers > CFA fingers by a lot.

 

[Blazers46]

Michigan. Not the team. Michigan is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Seriously, I know that sounds dramatic, but you’re 4 hours from northwest Michigan. If you’ve been there, you know.

Also, if I worked at ND I’d move to St. Joe, Michigan and commute. Great schools. Right on the beach.

I’m not sure I’d move that far. Edwardsburg, Niles, and some other border towns are decently priced for homes and you can find a good spot with acreage.

 

[ACamp1900]

<Sees white people arguing over canes and CfA,…. Exits thread.>

 

[IrishTusker]

The areas along Riverside Drive and North Shore Drive and south of campus and east of the river are very nice. The streets right around campus, including ND Avenue, are pretty safe, I think. The Catholic intellectual community is very unique and exciting.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

The areas along Riverside Drive and North Shore Drive and south of campus and east of the river are very nice. The streets right around campus, including ND Avenue, are pretty safe, I think. The Catholic intellectual community is very unique and exciting.

ND Avenue is very not safe after dark once you get more than a couple blocks off campus. Hate to say it but South Bend is legitimately pretty dangerous

 

[INLaw]

I’m not sure I’d move that far. Edwardsburg, Niles, and some other border towns are decently priced for homes and you can find a good spot with acreage.

Niles is a giant trailer park someone decided to call a city

 

[BobbyMac]

Niles is a giant trailer park someone decided to call a city

Not sure if Niles is still a thing. Everyone I know who frequents that area calls it Highelz.

 

[INLaw]

Not sure if Niles is still a thing. Everyone I know who frequents that area calls it Highelz.

Nailed it

 

[Blazers46]

Niles is a giant trailer park someone decided to call a city

Harry Heistand lives in a great area in Niles.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Niles is a giant trailer park someone decided to call a city

Yeah, Niles is dumpy. Buchanan/Baroda area is nicer. There’s a mini wine country near there. 15-20 minutes from SB. Buchanan/Baroda is a sweet spot as you’re 20 to Notre Dame and 20 to Lake Michigan beach towns.

 

[INLaw]

Im so anti michigan when I get my lox and bagel at David’s in New Buffalo I still walk around with a bad attitude

 

[Terry Jillery]

Im so anti michigan when I get my lox and bagel at David’s in New Buffalo I still walk around with a bad attitude

Except everyone in southwest Michigan is a ND fan. I do love that.

I try to visit Stray Dog whenever I’m near there. Never been to David’s. I’ll have to remember that.

 

[INLaw]

Except everyone in southwest Michigan is a ND fan. I do love that.

I try to visit Stray Dog whenever I’m near there. Never been to David’s. I’ll have to remember that.

Its basically across the street. Deli and decent coffee shop. Great bagel and lox. They do all the usual plus thin sliced tomato and cucumber. Adds just a little something extra. I always do the single slice of salmon you can get triple for like $2 more but then its too salmony

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Niles is a giant trailer park someone decided to call a city

Born and raised.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Don’t we all?


Elkhart is okay. I’m originally from Elkhart and promised I’d never move back. Granger is close enough lol. You have to be very picky about Elkhart. I’ll preface this by saying I don’t mind Hispanics because I lived in Las Cruces NM for 10 years but the Elkhart version of Hispanics is very poor/lower middle class. They have all but taken over the whole city on my opinion. Every time I go to the planet fitness in Elkhart it’s 80% Hispanic.

I really cannot believe no one has called you out on this bullshit right here. Who the fuck goes to planet fitness???

 

[BabyIrish]

Also, I know everyone is talking up penn and rightly so, just thought I'd throw out for you that a new catholic classical school (St. Thomas More Academy) opened up two years ago. Momentum seems to be growing amongst the catholic intellectual community for this school. I've lived here most of my life and loved my time here.

 

[Blazers46]

Also, I know everyone is talking up penn and rightly so, just thought I'd throw out for you that a new catholic classical school (St. Thomas More Academy) opened up two years ago. Momentum seems to be growing amongst the catholic intellectual community for this school. I've lived here most of my life and loved my time here.

Wouldn’t they be taking a chunk out of St Joe and Marion?

 

[Blazers46]

I really cannot believe no one has called you out on this bullshit right here. Who the fuck goes to planet fitness???

Same guy that brings his own whisky to weddings and restaurants. #CheapAF

 

[Blazers46]

Yea, the cold and snow are fine, but the dreariness is awful.

Seasonal depression is very real. Great time to travel.

 

[INLaw]

Wouldn’t they be taking a chunk out of St Joe and Marion?

Marian, damn elkhart heathen

 

[BabyIrish]

Wouldn’t they be taking a chunk out of St Joe and Marion?

Potentially in the future, but as it currently stands the school is still too small to make any sort of dent from those schools.

 

[dublinirish]

I really cannot believe no one has called you out on this bullshit right here. Who the fuck goes to planet fitness???

those tired of getting their asses kicked at the Y?

 

[Blazers46]

those tired of getting their asses kicked at the Y?

The Lunk Alarm could have saved me from my childhood bully . She ruined my life!! Probably goes to the Y now.

 

[Rambler09]

Thanks, everyone. To answer the questions posed, we would have other options to teach elsewhere - probably easier for me. I was kind of hoping someone would say "Yes, winters are brutal but we love South Bend/Granger!"

My sense is that the community there would be excellent (and I'd try to get season tickets!) but the city itself really leaves something to be desired. My family is in Chicago, so close by.

Are any of you who live there enthusiastic about it? If so, how do you make it work (head south for trips in the winter, etc)?

 

[dublinirish]

Thanks, everyone. To answer the questions posed, we would have other options to teach elsewhere - probably easier for me. I was kind of hoping someone would say "Yes, winters are brutal but we love South Bend/Granger!"

My sense is that the community there would be excellent (and I'd try to get season tickets!) but the city itself really leaves something to be desired. My family is in Chicago, so close by.

Are any of you who live there enthusiastic about it? If so, how do you make it work (head south for trips in the winter, etc)?

Winters in the midwest are great, just get yourself the right gear and the right toys and you'll always be busy. My family here took up cross country skiing here and we love going out and doing it. We had a downhill skiing place nearby also and we have our kids in that also. If you have the coin then get a snowmobile and head up north. Its really what you make of the winters here.