06/25/2026
Throwback Thursday 🏛️✨
Long before BuffaLouie’s became an Indiana tradition, our building was home to The Book Nook, a beloved bookstore, gathering place, and one of the most historic buildings in downtown Bloomington.
It’s here that legendary songwriter Hoagy Carmichael spent countless hours as an Indiana University student, even composing part of the timeless classic “Stardust” on the Book Nook piano. Along with classics like “Georgia on My Mind,” “Heart and Soul,” and “Lazybones,” his music would go on to shape American history.
Today, while the books and piano are gone, the building’s story lives on. Every time you walk through our doors, you’re stepping into a place that helped inspire one of America’s greatest songwriters.