INDIANAPOLIS — The Market House at downtown's City Market will temporarily close next March amid ongoing development in the area.
The construction is projected to last until 2026.
The city's Department of Metropolitan Development and the Indianapolis City Market Corporation announced the date for the closure Thursday. During the temporary closure, the Market House will undergo renovations while the city looks for a private operator of the space.
That means the remaining vendors need to find somewhere else to go, but the question is where.
“Honestly, it’s been tough,” said Atif Selwanes, owner of Cath Coffee Inc.
Vendors told 13News they knew about the closure but didn’t know the exact date until Wednesday night.
“We are trying to keep this place alive and trying to make everyone happy and now we are the punished people,” he said.
Selwanes said he is struggling to find an affordable spot to move his longtime business.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen and we don’t have promises yet,” he said.
The renovation of the food hall is part of a $200 million project to reimagine the city block after leaders say the current model isn’t sustainable.
In 2022, Indy DMD announced the City Market East project. It will include the conversion of the 20-story Gold Building into 350 apartments, construction of a 11-story apartment tower on the east wing of the campus, a public plaza on the west wing of the campus and upgrades to the office tower at 251 E. Ohio St.
The city is also waiving rent for vendors in January and February 2024.
But business owners like DaWuan Finley say it still puts him in a pinch.
“It will help, but it’s not enough. Three months is not enough time to be able to find a new place and get up and operating,” Finley said.
Finley got his start at the City Market more than a year ago. Now, he is in the process of finding a new spot.
“I have a realtor. I’m looking around and I’m trying to see what I can do as far as keeping things going,” he said.
To help businesses during the transition, the city and the market corporation are meeting individually with owners. Those owners have been asked to fill out a survey. From there, the city will provide the resources and tools they can.
When the market reopens, the city said there will be a focus on local vendors.
The city announced plans earlier this year to commit $12 million in Circle City Forward funds and $5 million in TIF funds for renovations of the Market House, the Wabash Street pedestrian alley and the west plaza.
City Market will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 1, 2024. The market is closed on Sundays.