There are currently 17 Penguin Point restaurants;16 in Indiana and one in Owensboro, Ky. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW —  The company that operates Penguin Point will soon be opening another one in South Bend.

The restaurant will be located on the town’s west side in a former Wendy’s restaurant building on Lincolnway West. 

According to Penguin Point Restaurant Group CEO Pat Hilton, the tentative opening date for the South Bend location is Aug. 1, 2021.

There are currently 17 Penguin Point restaurant locations;16 in Indiana and one in Owensboro, Ky.

The business was founded in 1950 by Wallace and Mary Stouder, with the first Penguin Point restaurant location in Wabash.

The restaurant initially operated as a carhop drive-in and was only open during summer months. 

Penguin Point restaurants were opened in several other states, including Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Texas, but all eventually closed.

In 2018, the restaurant chain was purchased by a company in Texas, US Assets, Inc. 

In the fall of 2020, new restaurants were opened in North Manchester and Columbia City. 

“We are aggressively looking for locations to open new Penguin Point restaurants for our loyal fans,” Hilton said.

The fast-food chain, with four restaurants in Kosciusko County, now offers online ordering and curbside pickup at all locations. Delivery is available as well. 

Future plans for a loyalty rewards program and a mobile app are also in the works.

“It’s on our digital roadmap,” Hilton said. “We have to update our Point of Sale (system) in some of our existing locations and we hope to have those updated this summer.”

Penguin Point, with their familiar slogan “the people-pleasing place,” is known for the Big Wally burger, chicken, tenderloin and french fries as well as their signature ‘Wally Sauce.’ 

The 16 Indiana locations all feature the same menu; the Owensboro’s menu varies slightly.

None of the Penguin Point restaurants currently offer breakfast items, although Hilton said they are looking at testing a breakfast menu at the North Manchester location in the near future.

Below is a list of the current Penguin Point locations:

• Auburn – Seventh Street
• Cloverdale – Main Street
• Columbia City – Line Street
• Elkhart – Bristol Street
• Elkhart – Lusher Avenue
• Elkhart – Center Street
• Fort Wayne – Winchester Road
• Goshen – Madison Street
• Marion – Adams Street
• North Manchester – SR 114
• Plymouth – Michigan Street
• Syracuse – Huntington Street
• Wabash – Wabash Street
• Warsaw – Detroit Street
• Warsaw – Center Street
• Warsaw – Lake Street 
• Owensboro, Ky. – Chuck Gray Court