Veterans Gather Every Thursday at Julie's Tell Street Cafe in Tell City

Julie's Tell Street Cafe at 922 Tell Street in Tell City hosts a veterans lunch every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering one of the most consistent community gathering points in Perry County for a veteran population that is proportionally larger than most counties in the state.

Perry County is home to approximately 1,165 veterans, roughly 7.7% of the county's total population of 19,218. That rate is measurably higher than Indiana's statewide average of 6.5% and the U.S. national average of 6.4%, which means Perry County carries a veteran concentration nearly 20% above both benchmarks. Of those 1,165 residents, approximately 1,028 are male and 137 are female. The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs promotes the Thursday lunch as an ongoing touchpoint where veterans can connect around healthcare enrollment, mental-health support, and benefits claims assistance in a county where the nearest full VA facility requires a significant drive.

The setting works in the event's favor. Julie's has earned multiple Perry County Readers' Choice Awards, taking top honors for Best Breakfast, Best Plate Lunches, Best Burgers, and Best Desserts. The scatter browns have become a signature item with a following that extends well beyond the Thursday crowd. Entrees run under $10 and sandwiches under $5, and the cafe offers senior discounts and daily specials that make weekly attendance realistic on a fixed income. The 922 Tell Street location is fully handicapped accessible, has indoor and outdoor seating, fits up to 70 guests, and maintains a large parking lot sized to handle buses.

For a first-timer, no reservation is needed. Walk-ins are welcome during the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. window. Julie's Thursday hours run from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., well around the event. The cafe holds a spot on both the Indiana Foodways Alliance Culinary Trail and the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience, a regional profile that draws veterans from neighboring communities into Tell City on a weekly basis.

The Perry County Veterans Service Office, located at 2219 Payne Street in Tell City, can be reached at (812) 547-2506 for veterans seeking additional assistance outside of the Thursday lunch. Julie's Tell Street Cafe is reachable at (812) 547-2579.