History

Elmo’s Diner was first opened in 1997 by Cammie Brantley and Wayne Hodges. The name “Elmo’s” was picked because it felt “friendly and unpretentious” according to an interview from Discover 9th Street.

From the beginning, an emphasis was put on creating a kid-friendly environment. This includes the creation of coloring sheets featuring “Elmo the Duck.” There is also a wall where customers are encouraged to pin their drawings for others to see.

Food

Elmo’s is known for its classic American diner style menu. Breakfast is served all day alongside a number of salads, sandwiches, and other entrees. A number of different desserts are available as well including cobblers, pies, and milkshakes.

The full menu is available here.

Awards

Elmo’s has received a large number of awards over the past 20 years. These include the awards for “Best Breakfast” and “Best Kid-Friendly” from the local newspaper Indy Week from 2014 to 2021. They also received the “Platinum for Best Breakfast/Brunch” from Durham Magazine from 2014 to 2021. These awards and more can be viewed on their website.

Community Outreach

Since 2014, Elmo’s has been running their First Tuesday Program. This program pledges 10 percent of the total sales from the first Tuesday of each month to a local PTA.