Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BORDEN – Hungry pedestrians and bicyclists on the Borden section of the Monon South Trail will soon have a place to quench their thirst and satisfy their hunger.
24-Hour Trail Snacks & Drinks will open Oct. 15 at 107 W. Main St., right across from the trailhead.
The opening of the vending room is the first brick and mortar business to open since Phase 1A construction of the Monon South Trail was completed earlier this year.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Broken Town Granola to downtown Borden, just steps from the Monon South Trail,” said Sadie Miskuf, director of The Magnificent Monon South. “This kind of innovative, trail-friendly business is exactly the kind of momentum we love to see, locally rooted, health conscious, and accessible 24/7 for both trail users and the community. It’s a perfect example of how the trail is helping to spark new energy and opportunity in our towns.”
The town of Borden is excited for the opening of a new business that will bring handcrafted granola and healthy treats to the community and trail users.
“We have watched Ryan Juodikis, the owner, spend the last couple of years transforming the town’s old barber shop into his vision of a 24/7 vending business of his delicious granola products and other healthy refreshments,” said Steve Williams, president of the Borden Town Council. “This investment and repurposing of the building, with the utility of serving the residents of Borden and the visitors to the Monon South Trail, is an excellent and welcome addition to our special little town. We are excited for the opening of Broken Town Granola October 15th!”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Broken Town Granola to Borden. Supporting small businesses is a big part of what makes our town thrive, and we know this shop will be a wonderful addition to our Town, “ said Town Development Coordinator Brenna LaDuke. “The Town is currently working with Ryan Juodikis and Radius Indiana to coordinate a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in late winter. More details will be shared as the date approaches.”
The vending room will carry several varieties of Broken Town Granola as well as drinks. Ryan Juodikis is owner and founder of Broken Town Granola, a business he started a few years ago in New Albany. The building that houses the vending room has a service window and Juodikis is planning to launch a takeout-only breakfast bar early in 2026 called Borden Town Granola Bar.
Juodikis, who is from New Albany, spoke with Southern Indiana Business Report about his business and what motivated his decision to open a vending room along the trail.
For starters, when did you establish Broken Town Granola and what led you to making/selling varieties of granola?
I started this business at the New Albany farmers market in 2022 while making granola at MESA downtown. Broken Town Granola is a concept I had a long time ago to bring new granola flavors to the market, because there’s a lot of room for innovation and new varieties when it comes to granola.
The theme surrounding the brand is about making peace with the reality that all we build in this life will eventually fall apart. It’s some food for thought while sitting down for breakfast or snacking, possibly overwhelmed or burdened by the day’s undertakings or the desire to leave a mark on this world. It may get people to reflect on what is a worthy endeavor to them and what they’d really feel good about putting their time and energy toward.
The theme of the brand also helps me incorporate geography into the products. As things move along you will see more globally-inspired flavors from towns around the world in Broken Town’s products.
You’re the first business to open along the trail with trail users in mind, what drew you to this location and why was it a good fit for a vending location?
Initially, I was just looking for a commercial property that would serve as a production facility to grow the brand. But about three weeks after I bought the place, the governor announced the trail going in front. And then one of the town hall ladies expressed excitement that I was taking over the building because Borden could use more food options. So that plan changed, and I knew I had to do something more. It’s been a long process getting the building ready though. It needed a lot of work.
Are you a Monon South Trail user, or a trail enthusiast in general?
I do like trails. I haven’t had much time to spend on the Monon South Trail yet, but I intend to bike on it.
Where is your granola made?
It’s made in the same building as the vending machine. The kitchen is walled off.
Is it just you or are there employees of Broken Town Granola?
It’s just me for now, but I’ll soon be adding more parts to the business which will require some hiring.
What kind of snacks/drinks will be available in the vending machine?
The vending machine will, of course, have several flavors of the granola bricks. I’ve also recently started testing out some protein bars which will be in the vending machine. There are some snacks from other brands including jerky and protein cookies and a wide selection of cold drinks like bottled water, iced teas, juices, coffee, protein shakes, energy drinks and more.
In addition to providing a safe place for pedestrians and bicyclists, the Monon South Trail is an opportunity to develop commerce in small towns like Borden, Pekin, Salem, etc. As an entrepreneur, how do you see the trail being good for business development?
I’ve been seeing the domino effect in motion. The trail is looking great and the area is becoming more attractive. I’ve been noticing more cars with bike racks parked nearby, so it must be drawing in people from out of the area. There is new interest in the towns along the trail and Borden is enjoying new revitalization thanks to the leadership in town. They’ve been securing funds and enacting plans to add new amenities for the community. It’s coming together very nicely.
