Fine dining restaurant opens on South Bend riverfront

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A new fine dining restaurant, Cascade, opened its doors this month on the Saint Joseph River.

While the entire renovation of Seitz Park has not finished construction, Cascade’s opening is one of the first steps in South Bend’s riverfront revitalization.

The Vice President of Navarre Hospitality Group, Matt Soutra, says he believes the riverfront in South Bend can be a space for everyone to gather once construction wraps up.

“We see this is kind of the first phase in a larger development or part of the first phase in a larger development, and you know again we think that the water should be greatly utilized. It’s a beautiful river. It’s something that unique to this area,” said Soutra.

According to the city, the construction of Seitz Park was slowed down due to a deal with Notre Dame University. The university needing to build a hydroelectric turbine underneath the park for campus sustainability. The city says the park renovation will finish once the turbine is finished.

Soutra explained the restaurant’s construction has been in the works for years, but broke ground in January. He said the riverfront was the draw for this development.

“The beautiful waterfall, the river lights, and the sculpture are the keepers of the fire, so the location is what we started with and then around that we built out a concept that we thought was appropriate,” said Soutra.

South Bend Venues, Parks and Arts website shares park renovation updates, including a timeline where community members can follow along with updates about Seitz Park.