INDIANAPOLIS — A new luxury apartment complex is coming to Broad Ripple and developers will build it on top of an existing parking garage Marko On the Canal will add 69 luxury apartment units to the existing mixed-use parking garage at the busy corner of North College Avenue and Westfield Boulevard The project is raising eyebrows among some residents because the City of Indianapolis spent $6.35 million of the public’s money to help the developer build the Broad Ripple parking garage The $15 million structure opened to drivers in April 2013 spent $6.35 million — money generated from the sale of the city’s parking meters to a private company — in an effort to alleviate parking problems in Broad Ripple say the developer Keystone should return some of the city’s investment into the garage “I think it was a failed project to begin with,” said Sanderson “I think it would be nice if the city would pull back some of that money.” Keystone (under the name 6280 LLC) filed a petition with the city in October 2024 asking to extend the garage’s existing underground foundation into a public alley “There's leverage now the city has to have a financial reckoning with the developer and claw back some of those funds or all of those funds before they give them the authority to intrude on the alley." “I have yet to see the garage full of cars,” said Sanderson The mixed-use garage has experienced tenant turnover Massage Envy and Hopcat are among the tenants who came and left The space, once occupied by Hopcat, which left in January 2024 Athletico Physical Therapy and Pure Barre Fitness WRTV Investigates Kara Kenney counted cars day and night and found the structure was 6% full PREVIOUS | Publicly funded parking garage largely unused WRTV Investigates stopped by the parking garage on a weekday afternoon in March 2025 and found the garage about 12% full and an Enterprise Rent-A-Car location operating on the garage’s top level Luke Stader lives near Broad Ripple and visits often for food and drinks with friends “The ROI (Return on Investment) is not there for the city “It’s not really used and Broad Ripple as a whole is not a great community now so there’s not a lot of draw to come here." Stader said COVID-19 and shootings, like the deadly incident in 2024 have impacted the number of people visiting Broad Ripple Because millions of public dollars went into the Broad Ripple parking garage WRTV Investigates wanted to know how Marko on the Canal will impact public parking in the garage The developer Keystone declined to provide someone for an on-camera interview but via email a Keystone spokesperson told us they will be adding 16 new parking spaces The public will share parking spots with the apartment residents “The garage will remain open to the public and will be used by both apartment residents and the public in keeping with its original design for use in a mixed-use development,” a Keystone spokesperson said in an email “As it has been since the project opened more than a decade ago all spots will be available on a first-come first-served basis and capacity will vary with time of day and day of the week.” As for Clarke Kahlo and Terry Sanderson’s request for a refund on the city’s $6.35 million investment we checked with the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development “Any potential discussions on claw-backs with this development would depend on the nature of the City’s contract with Keystone which were negotiated under a prior administration,” said Lucas Gonzalez Chief Communications Officer at the Department of Metropolitan Development “The $6.35 million the City contributed to the project was upfront payment from a parking meter privatization deal The project was not paid for using taxpayer dollars.” WRTV Investigates submitted a records request for the garage’s original contract under Mayor Ballard WRTV Investigates also asked Keystone about a potential clawback of the city’s funds and the developer said they consider the garage a successful project “We met the neighborhood parking needs with a much-needed public amenity supported by the City and the neighborhood,” a Keystone spokesperson said in an email to WRTV “Broad Ripple neighborhood leadership requested the garage be designed to relieve neighborhood parking pressure during evenings and provide capacity for future growth in Broad Ripple We are confident the garage has sufficient capacity to continue serving all three of these original purposes as it has for more than a decade.” Construction is expected to begin this summer on Marko on the Canal “If apartments revitalize the area over here but the city’s Plat Committee is expected to hear the petition for extending the foundation into the alley on April 9 the project was to be a new mixed-use development with apartments and a dedicated space for Purdue Polytechnic High School’s North Campus,” said a Keystone spokesperson “Before we started construction it became clear their student demand for enrollment was going to outgrow the space before it was constructed We are being told that design will be completed in the next 60 days then we will go for state and city building permits and hope to start construction in the summer.” WRTV Investigates also contacted City County Councilor John Barth "The needs of Broad Ripple Village continue to evolve strategically located in front on the Red Line adds to the neighborhood’s mixed-use development and increases housing density—allowing more people to call Broad Ripple home Expanding housing options is essential to sustaining our local businesses and ensuring long-term investment in our neighborhoods More residents mean greater support for the vibrant businesses that make Broad Ripple unique I am grateful to Keystone for its commitment to meeting the needs of the neighborhood and for continuing to invest in our city's future." Denison Parking took over parking operations at the garage in 2022 It was previously managed by Newpoint Parking (This article was updated to add new information.) Some Broad Ripple Starbucks lovers woke up to a surprise Thursday morning while stopping to grab a cup of Joe The Seattle-based mega coffee chain Wednesday closed its longstanding cafe on Broad Ripple Avenue and will move the store about two miles to the east after more than 20 years of serving cups of coffee and specialty lattes at the site that featured a fireplace A sign on the door at 854 Broad Ripple Ave Thanks for 20+ years." The sign asks customers to visit a newly constructed Starbucks one mile down the street at 62nd Street and Keystone Avenue All employees at the Broad Ripple cafe are transferring to the new location a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement Friday morning "Choosing a site for a new Starbucks location is a key element in providing customers with the Starbucks Experience and we carefully consider many factors when opening a new store We are happy to share that we are relocating our store at 854 Broad Ripple Ave to 6171 N Keystone Ave," a prepared statement from a Starbucks spokesperson said Some users on Facebook lamented the loss of a Starbucks location in the highly walkable neighborhood while others expressed excitement over the new location which will have a drive-thru and a parking lot Alysa Guffey covers growth and development for IndyStar One of the first hot chicken chains to open in Indiana has closed a location here Joella's Hot Chicken permanently closed its shop in Indianapolis' Broad Ripple neighborhood on Jan. 26, the chain announced on social media Monday.The 163-seat restaurant at 1072 Broad Ripple Ave. Kentucky-based chain continues to operate a store at 4715 E opened in September 2020.It also has a location in Clarksville Indiana.All of the Indiana locations are company-owned Hot chicken: Here's a look at where you can score the dish in the Indianapolis area "While we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our Broad Ripple location this move allows us to strategically invest in areas that will better serve a broader customer base and enhance the long-term success of our brand," the company said in a statement to IndyStar The company said all Joella’s employees from Broad Ripple were offered positions at other stores The Broad Ripple store is among 10 still listed on the company’s website Ohio.Joella’s had 17 locations in five states in 2022 Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social This story has been updated to add new information INDIANAPOLIS — The Broad Ripple neighborhood is known for nightlife but it is now without one of its longest-tenured bars which was known for its live DJs and reggae nights The bar was a Broad Ripple attraction since 1984 but it announced its sudden closure on social media during the weekend The Casba's statement did not elaborate why the bar closed but said the bar "fought off closing for as long as it could." there are still reminders of the club's cultural impact on display Tributes to DJ Indiana Jones, who owned The Casba before his death in 2020, and late photographer Mpozi Tolbert, who also DJ'd at the club, were installed on the building this month. The Broad Ripple Village Association told WRTV it received no advance warning of The Casba's closure The bar's statement called the closure the "end of an era" and said "the culture that sustained Broad Ripple's basement will never be replaced or duplicated." BROAD RIPPLE— A Broad Ripple restaurant is getting ready to open for St It’s the first time in five years Broad Ripple Brewpub will be open on a Monday Patrick’s Day 2020 is the day restaurants and Indiana could no longer have sit down service the owners then decided it wasn’t profitable enough to stay open on Mondays Broad Ripple Brewpub used to be open seven days a week once COVID hit there wasn’t enough staff or business for it to make sense the owner says a lot has changed for the restaurant industry in five years He now closes his restaurant earlier and has had to raise beer prices you can’t afford to pay staff to not being doing something yea we just had to make the decision that past 9 p.m. the more chances for you to make money but if there’s literally no one coming in then you’re losing money,” said Hannan Hannan says finding staff still is difficult to do but not as hard as it was five years ago I’m not one of these people who say ‘Oh they were all sitting at home.’ They weren’t I think that a lot of people who are in the service industry once they didn’t have to get up and go to work every day were able to start thinking about a different path,” said Hannan Hannan is also Irish, so with St. Patrick Day falling on a Monday again, he felt like it was right to open and celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day was always a big day for them. Broad Ripple Brewpub will be open from 4 p.m A new Airbnb at David Letterman's childhood home in Broad Ripple might be the closest thing his hometown has to a public landmark honoring the longtime late-night host Real estate agent Krystin Wiggs had hardly noticed the 1942 bungalow until the couple she helped to buy the home next door asked her a question "We were catching up last summer," she says of those clients did you have any idea that the house next door to the one we bought was where David Letterman grew up?" A full-time public relations consultant as well as a real estate agent Wiggs said her storytelling instinct kicked in Envisioning a live-in mini-museum for Letterman fans from across the state and country she bought the home for $347,500 in August Letterman: Caitlin Clark's episode of David Letterman's Netflix’s show is out. How to watch Renting for about $200 a night since October the home tells different parts of Letterman's story through its decor and location Born in 1947 Letterman graduated in 1965 from Broad Ripple High School he worked less than a mile west as a stock boy at the former Atlas Supermarket at 54th and College Avenue Wiggs commissioned a basement mural by artist Leah Pinney that portrays Letterman's next chapter at Ball State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications in 1969 The mural includes Letterman's recurring quip proclaiming the cardinal as "the fiercest robin-sized birth in the animal kingdom." weatherman and occasional host of both a children's show and a late-night movie show at what later became WTHR (Channel 13) Following a brief stint at a local talk radio show Letterman drove his red pickup truck to Los Angeles in 1975 to pursue a comedy career NBC's "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered David Letterman on the Indy 500: "I love it being part of my heritage as a Hoosier" where he tours the city with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark Email IndyStar Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09 BROAD RIPPLE — Another Broad Ripple business has closed its doors announced the restaurant permanently closed on Sunday “We want to thank our team and guests who we have been fortunate enough to serve since we opened,” the restaurant said in a social media post Another Joella’s Hot Chicken location on 96th Street in Indianapolis will remain operational The restaurant issued the following statement regarding the closure: This announcement comes shortly after Casba, a Broad Ripple bar, shut down after 40 years of business INDIANAPOLIS — Smartphones and meal delivery services may go together like spaghetti and meatballs but getting a freshly prepared meal delivered to your home 35 years ago required a lot of ingenuity Dinner Express was the brainchild of Charlie and Tina Crawford The food delivery service allowed Hoosiers to order food from 10 participating restaurants in and around Broad Ripple “We selected [the] Broad Ripple area to start up our business because of the high-quality restaurants in one congested area and the lifestyles of the people in the area,” Tina Crawford said “We thought [it] was a great combination to start with and it seems to have gone good for both us and our customers.” Dinner Express clients would place their takeout order to one of the participating restaurants over the phone The order was then faxed by Dinner Express to the appropriate restaurant Charlie would then deliver the order within an hour INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Joella’s Hot Chicken opened its doors in Broad Ripple in October 2018 Sunday the business closed its doors for good Joella’s Broad Ripple said “It is with heavy hearts that we announce our Broad Ripple location closed its doors for the final time on 1/26/25 We want to thank our team and guests who we have been fortunate to serve since we opened.” Joella’s Hot Chicken is a national chain who’s website proclaims: “The place where hearts are always warm and the chicken is spiced just right we’ll spice our 100% antibiotic-free all-natural chicken just the way you like – from just enough heat to bring out the flavors and warm your heart we remain deeply committed to serving the Central Indiana market and delivering the crave-worthy chicken our guests love While we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our Broad Ripple location this move allows us to strategically invest in areas that will better serve a broader customer base and enhance the long-term success of our brand We are grateful to our loyal guests in Broad Ripple for their support over the years and encourage them to visit one of our two remaining Central Indiana locations—on 96th Street in Indianapolis and in Carmel-Westfield—where they can continue to enjoy our signature hot chicken all Joella’s team members from Broad Ripple were offered positions at our other locations reflecting our commitment to our employees and community We look forward to continuing to satisfy Hoosiers’ cravings for chicken that’s spiced just right and welcoming our guests to our nearby restaurants.” The restaurant was located at 1072 Broad Ripple Ave After a 10-year run on the Monon Trail in Broad Ripple, popular New American brunch and dinner eatery Public Greens will close Dec The restaurant, which promised when it started to donate all its proceeds billed itself as an "urban kitchen with a mission." Part of the Patachou family of restaurants which includes Napolese and Café Patachou Public Greens at one point had two additional locations — one at the Fashion Mall The Broad Ripple location was the only one remaining "Closing Public Greens is not an easy decision to make, but this choice allows us to focus our resources on the continued expansion of Café Patachou while creating new opportunities for our team," the restaurant announced in a post on social media A concept from Café Patachou proprietor Martha Hoover's Won't Stop Hospitality, Public Greens opened at 902 E. 64th St. in December 2014 with a stated mission to support the Patachou Foundation which helps provide meals for food-insecure Indianapolis-area children Public Greens employees will join the staff at other Won't Stop Hospitality restaurants including its upcoming Patachou location in Fishers Boasting a small urban farm on its premises that supplied the restaurant with some of its produce Public Greens carved out a reputation as a chic farm-to-table eatery with dishes like salads The post did not say what will happen to the urban farm along the Monon once the restaurant closes In June, Won't Stop Hospitality announced it had received an investment from North Carolina-based private equity firm Hargett Hunter to expand Café Patachou in and beyond Indiana "We are laser-focused on the expansion of the Patachou brand and customers can expect us to open our eighth location of Cafe Patachou in Fishers this December," a spokesperson for Won't Stop Hospitality said This story was updated add a video and photo gallery and to correct an inaccuracy Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin BROAD RIPPLE — Many changes have come to the Broad Ripple area over the past decade including the departure of many businesses so some customers are stepping up to keep the small businesses open Friends Isaac Roman and Thomas Hays have worked in various kitchens around the Indianapolis area They both share a deep love and appreciation for the pastries at Rene’s Bakery in Broad Ripple the owner of Rene’s fell ill and was unable to keep the restaurant going He was getting ready to close the bakery for good when Hays and Roman came forward “He kept getting swept away to the hospital We kind of knew that he was thinking of selling and I told him right away “We felt like we had to do everything we could to keep it around and continue Albert's legacy,” Hays added Hays and Roman bought the bakery and are set to re-open the Broad Ripple staple on Friday with little change to the original menu “You'd be able to get the same croissant you had 20 years ago,” Hays said Hays and Roman both hope to add some new items as well Always thinking about the business,” they said Hays says they are happy to keep the bakery open to fulfill his dream of operating his own business and he is also excited that a part of Broad Ripple will stay the same “We want to keep with the times in Broad Ripple but at the same time we need some of the places that people like me remember,” Hays explained “We have to keep some of the things that made Broad Ripple — Broad Ripple.” More information on the bakery can be found on theirInstagram page. Chain dessert shop Amorino Gelato Al Naturale is headed to the Fashion Mall According to a press release from a rep for the shopping center the business—which serves hot and cold drinks and various pastries—will soon open in the mall’s Fashion Cafe food court The franchise-based company has locations around the globe this appears to be the first Indiana outpost for the brand but all is not lost—the business has its eye on another location in the area its counter at The Garage food hall (906 Carrollton Ave. The rebooted Thieves is expected to open in June Indy’s first Cava just opened. As teased last week the fast casual build-your-own bowl company is planning an expansion into Central Indiana with a Fishers location at 11594 Whistle Dr and more that feature the flavors of the Greek and Arab worlds (think hummus A second local spot is expected later this year and a Starbucks-branded coffee shop on the ground floor Assuming the plans to renovate are approved the hotel could open to guests as soon as 2026 Five months after Olivia Trevino announced on social media that her father Albert's beloved bakery would "most likely be closed indefinitely," Rene's is back up and running in Broad Ripple When founder and owner Albert 'Rene' Trevino stepped down from running Rene's in July amid a battle with cancer Broad Ripple residents mourned the loss of the 20-year-old neighborhood staple longtime Rene's employee Isaac Roman and restaurant industry veteran Thomas Hays announced they had taken over ownership of the bakery "When (Albert) fell ill and had to close the bakery in July we knew we had to do everything we could to keep this beloved place going," Roman and Hays said in an Instagram post "Albert has entrusted us to carry forward the legacy he built plans to operate with a limited menu of croissants Fridays and with a full menu that includes cookies Roman, who called himself a close friend of Trevino's, worked at Rene's as a bread maker for four years. He met Hays, a longtime Rene's customer and restaurant professional who previously worked for Cunningham Restaurant Group, while the two worked at brunch eatery Rize Roman and Hays said Trevino would work with them "as much as possible," including teaching them his method of making croissants "A huge thank you to Albert for all of your support for letting us be a part of your lives," the pair said where the ghost of the former Crackers Comedy Club neon sign remains on the façade of 6281 N you wouldn't know you're passing by one of the city's newest concert venues Turntable the venue pays homage to listening rooms and speakeasies Jenny Boyts, CEO of Forty5 Presents, the boutique promoter behind The Vogue and Rock the Ruins said the idea for the space arose in January The vision became a passion project for many staffers who swapped Pinterest boards for months to build the aesthetic collaboratively And the end result is a product of that teamwork — they pulled it off without hiring a designer or a contractor "It came together really organically and in kind of a natural way instead of a kind of stuffy scope of work," she said A look inside Turntable in Broad RippleTurntable's celebration of vinyl records is immediately apparent once you enter the building; more than 20 albums line the face of the large light fixture on the ceiling the space gets darker and the music louder until you find yourself in an entryway surrounded by purple and orange lights and wooden fixtures on the wall that follow a vaguely soundwave-like pattern where they can sip cocktails and mocktails and admire even more records “It’s also supposed to kind of feel a little bit like your grandmother’s basement," Boyts said but hopefully some details that kind of start to feel a little more like a vintage Through a set of double doors is the showroom which Boyts estimated holds 400-450 guests for a general admission Although the carpet's been ripped up and the walls are paneled with wooden rods the risers remain in the same configuration And although the classic red brick wall is gone Forty5 Presents kept a brick column at stage right as a reminder of the venue's history Boyts said the restoration project saved as many bricks as possible in the hope of reusing them to honor the former Broad Ripple haunt Near the bar area is a mural of a woman whose afro is sculpted entirely of 45 rpm records — about 150 of them Look long enough and you'll spot artists ranging from Marvin Gaye Ray Charles and James Brown to Webb Pierce and Bobbie Gentry and iconic labels like Motown While the space is open now and ready to host shows — a variety of artists are booked to perform in the space into the new year — Turntable and I think it’s gonna always be an evolving project for our team," Boyts said 'Your favorite artist didn't start at Ruoff'Boyts said smaller more intimate showrooms like Turntable's serve as entry points to the industry for early career artists "Your favorite artist didn’t start at Ruoff Your favorite artist didn’t start at Gainbridge," she said "But where and how did you have access to go see that artist earlier in their career?" progressing from something like Turntable to The Vogue and larger A ground-level space such as Turntable boosts the city's music scene "When you think about the ecosystems of cities that are doing really well in the music space there’s gonna be small rooms for the artists that are just barely kind of starting on tour — so these size rooms — or maybe there’s a national tour but they’re gonna be able to sell a little more tickets," she said "And then you just scale up until you get all the way to a Ruoff.” Forty5 hopes to attract artists from around the country but Boyts said the goal with Turntable is to also create a space to help local artists launch their careers we’re going to bring national touring artists that people want to listen to might be your favorite artist that’s up-and-coming there’s also a home here for local artists in the city," she said "How do you get into venues where there’s a partner who’s willing to work with you and be flexible Turntable is located at 6281 N. College Ave. in Broad Ripple. For information regarding upcoming shows and how to purchase tickets, visit turntableindy.com Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at holly.hays@indystar.com For the friends and family of Mpozi Mshale Tolbert a wrong was righted in Broad Ripple on Tuesday night A mural of the former Indianapolis DJ was unveiled in the alley outside the Casba Bar, 6319 Guilford Ave. in Broad Ripple, the result of a collaboration between local nonprofits BRIDGE Collective the Broad Ripple Village Association and community members this one honoring Tolbert’s friend and fellow creative Ron Miner who worked under the name DJ Indiana Jones Miner had also spearheaded efforts to reimagine the mural of Tolbert in 2020 While Tuesday night’s unveiling was a joyous occasion for the dozens who huddled under tents to keep warm in the November rain His friends' grief over his death returned after the mural abruptly disappeared last fall "The pain that we felt when that went away," Shannon Kay Wilson said art administrator and cofounder of BRIDGE Collective and friend of Tolbert said the mural was more than a piece of public art Some saw the artwork as a way to reconnect with Tolbert in times of need "People that loved Mpozi and gravitated toward him and got a lot out of their friendship with him," she said "You would just go to the mural and be like I gotta figure this out,' or 'I gotta feel better A mural honoring the legacy and impact of Tolbert first appeared in Broad Ripple in 2008, two years after his sudden death at age 34 While the artwork had been touched up over the years to repair the wall and reimagine the original art That version of the mural included inspiration from Tolbert's notebooks and writings and paid homage to the cities of Indianapolis and Philadelphia with his 6-foot-6 frame and long dreadlocks already seemed larger-than-life — leaning over a turntable with the Indy skyline behind him And then the wall was painted over with no warning to its creators in September 2023 BRVA and a group of artists recreated the mural using photos taken by Star photojournalist Michelle Pemberton They produced a digital reproduction that was printed on eight alumacore panels which are affixed to the wall and can be maintained and even moved — preventing a repeat of last year’s abrupt decommissioning The result is a 30-by-8-foot horizontal reproduction of the Tolbert mural 8-by-14-foot vertical mural of DJ Indiana Jones surrounded by speakers filled with the names of people places and things influential to him or that he The Miner mural honors a legacy of a person who influenced the growth and development of the artist said Miner made the local music scene accessible to him as a young artist “(Ron) gave me some of my first gigs that I had in the city,” Reynolds said he gave us gigs when we had potential — before we were good Reynolds reflected on the strength of relationships in the artistic world “You don’t do that by … burning your bridges You do that by keeping your word and holding it down.” started out making remarks on behalf of the IHCDA where he's a communications specialist and brand ambassador and Philips later told IndyStar Miner cemented Philips' college nickname "Skittles," as a lifelong moniker some in the crowd shouted as he stepped to the microphone "Thank you for being a great example of community in action," Philips said Tuesday to he Indianapolis nonprofits activists and organizers who raised the funds and secured the matching grant to make the new mural possible "Switching hats now and just being Skits," he started "I want to send a massive shout out to the love and energy we have all felt for the city of Philadelphia His voice swelled as he spoke and then broke at Tolbert’s name “— guiding Mpozi to Indianapolis,” he continued Philips said there’s no denying the ways in which Tolbert Miner and others like them have shaped the city "I don't have to ask if anyone agrees that (their) impact was and is great," he said "and what we are representing today is the least we can do to honor their legacy." Where are the Mpozi and Ron Miner murals?The mural is located in the alleyway at 6319 Guilford Ave IndyStar reporter Bradley Hohulin contributed Explore the Broad Ripple Farmers Market located at 6001 N MADDY BRODERICK | ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR | mbroderick@butler.edu Over the past three decades, the Broad Ripple Farmers Market (BRFM) has grown from a small local initiative to a beloved gathering place for Indianapolis residents and Butler students alike local food to the community has evolved into a thriving hub where local farmers artisans and patrons come together each weekend As the market celebrates its 30th anniversary the market’s history is a testament to the community’s dedication to supporting local agriculture reducing waste and creating a space for connection It’s more than just a venue to buy local; it’s a place where neighbors connect small businesses showcase their products and local talent is appreciated has been pivotal in the market’s evolution Wilder’s contributions to the market began following the untimely passing of her mentor “We’ve always stayed focused on promoting local food,” Wilder said and it’s what our community still values most.” making healthy food accessible to a broader audience “We want everyone to have access to healthy “I think that’s a really important part of what we do.” The owner of Wild’s Apple Farm David Boots further emphasized the market’s success and its impact on local farmers. His farm, started by Gene Wild with his collection of over 2,000 apple trees, joined the BRFM as a vendor about a decade ago “The market has been a key part of our growth helping us introduce new products like apple cider donuts and slushies,” Boots said The strong customer relationships and supportive management from the BRFM have ensured the farm’s success and continued presence in the market By creating a welcoming environment where farmers and producers feel valued the market has helped small businesses thrive while building a loyal customer base that returns each week The BRFM is not only a venue for fresh produce but also a stage for local talent. Junior musical arts major Zoe Klotz, who performs with the Arthur Jordan Saxophone Quartet at the BRFM values the market’s relaxed and welcoming performance environment “It’s a much lower pressure environment so it’s a lot easier to have fun with the music,” Klotz said “People are going to enjoy it no matter what you sound like.” Klotz recognized performing in the market as a significant contributor to their growth as a musician The casual atmosphere allowed them to explore new pieces and styles of music in a way that more formal settings don’t always permit “Performing at the market has helped me balance high-level playing with enjoyment,” Klotz said “We’ve been told that it makes the market very pleasant which makes me really happy because I love it when I get to share what I enjoy with other people.” Sophomore environmental studies major Ashlynn Stout visited the BRFM as part of an assignment for her RL 384 – Ecotheology course and was impressed by the market’s integration into the urban setting she observed a lively atmosphere with about 30 different vendors and appreciated the market’s unique offerings such as guacamole and coffee “I was impressed that there was a bus station there because a big part of fresh food is making sure it stays fresh,” Stout said “There was also a stand at the front where people could get SNAP tickets for food vouchers so it’s not just an elevated farmers market that only rich people can go to.” The market left a lasting impression on Stout, inspiring her to return to the market and continue exploring its diverse range of local goods and initiatives. She recommended checking the BRFM’s Instagram for updates on vendors and events encouraging others to experience the unique atmosphere the market has to offer its dedication to supporting local farmers fostering community connections and promoting sustainability remains unwavering Its ability to adapt and thrive ensures it will remain a cherished staple in the Broad Ripple community for years to come You must be logged in to post a comment Send us your letters to the email listed below complete with your full name and affiliation with Butler University. Please keep your letter under 500 words. All letters may be edited by The Butler Collegian's editorial staff for style and grammar. collegian@butler.edu. Copyright © 2012 by DW Focus. Proudly powered by WordPress WordPress Theme by DesignWall After a pair of recent shootings rattled visitors' sense of security and three years of construction projects choked major thoroughfares with orange cones and chain link fences Broad Ripple is ready to welcome back customers.But the neighborhood's late-night business owners acknowledge that first they must solve what they call an image problem That image problem was the focus of a late Wednesday morning meeting open to media members at Kilroy's where members of the Broad Ripple Village Association met with local bar owners and city officials to discuss how to bring more people to the village safely Some measures, like installing extra lights and security cameras But public perception may not be as easy to change the heart of Indianapolis," District 7 City County Counselor John Barth said "So when people have a misperception that the violence from a few years ago is the standard though that hasn't come to pass amid various legal hurdles making the main drag more accessible than it has been throughout the last few years Michael Cranfill, who has ownership stakes in multiple Indy-area bars and eateries including The Quarter and Cholita Tacos in Broad Ripple compared the construction to a critical medical operation "We're still the beating heart," Cranfill said our arteries have been tuned up and we're healthy once again." Cranfill was one of several owners who said sales suffered throughout the months of construction and have yet to fully rebound One possible salve: happy hour. Cranfill hopes the recently legalized practice of selling discounted drinks during select hours will bring larger post-work crowds to his bar and others nearby He said The Quarter will soon partner with seven of its fellow bars to air advertisements on radio station WTTS marketing Broad Ripple as Indianapolis' "midtown meetup." has been crucial for Broad Ripple bars during the construction-addled summers One recurring topic at the owners' monthly meetings with the BRVA is aligning event schedules so patrons leaving one venue will migrate to another Jenny Boyts, who oversees The Vogue just off the main strip as CEO of event operator Forty5 said the heightened safety protocols are crucial when the theater has a performance that draws an influx of out-of-towners many of whom stick around for a post-show libation "It ultimately really benefits everybody when somebody comes to one of our shows and feels safe enough to turn a corner after the show at 11 o'clock because they got out early and feel safe to walk into any of these bars," Boyts said Cranfill echoed Boyts' sentiment about supposed competitors collaborating they first congregated to discourage late-night rowdiness and establish safety measures after years of "barely being able to hang on," the group of bar owners hopes to assure people the village is ready to once again be the city's premiere nightlife destination "This is truly an area where a high tide lifts all boats," Cranfill said It's time to bring people back so everyone can experience what they know and love about Broad Ripple." Contact IndyStar dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com Rene’s Bakery is set for a triumphant return. The wildly popular Broad Ripple bakery founded by Albert Rene Trevino went dark in July after Trevino’s health took an immensely challenging turn amazing news: Longtime Rene’s baker Isaac Roman has bought the business at 6524 N a chef with experience at a number of restaurants within Indy’s ubiquitous Cunningham Group The pair hope to reopen Rene’s in time to supply your holiday sweet needs with Albert making an occasional appearance in the shop “[He] will still be working with us as much as possible,” the new owners say including “teaching us how to make Rene’s croissants.”  and will update you with more info when I have it Drinks at the spot will be served by delivery robots First Watch has launched in Noblesville and lunch chain with 535 locations across 29 states First Watch’s latest location opened at 16725 Mercantile Blvd which is known for its breakfast tacos and fresh juice bar with a return to smoked meat glory in the works INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A new effort to get customers to come back to Broad Ripple is underway Bar owners say late-night violence had hurt business the strip is safe again thanks to a partnership between business owners and Indianapolis police But at night, that foot traffic has decreased, said Stephen Kelly, bar manager at Kilroy’s Bar & Grill the business used to have a line out the door Broad Ripple bars and restaurant owners have taken matters into their hands: They want people to know Broad Ripple is safe at night “We came together to team up to make it better and safer to support each other to make it better to make it safer.” “With everything being updated and fixed We’re trying to make it a safer place for everyone to hang out and have a good time.” Kelly says construction on Broad Ripple Avenue which is believed to be nearing completion Commander Matthew Thomas of IMPD said Broad Ripple had a “35% decrease in violent crime year to date.” IMPD has increased its presence on Fridays businesses have hired off-duty officers to be outside their establishments News 8 spoke to some people in Broad Ripple on Friday Some said they don’t feel safe at night in the north-side neighborhood but I’m not a lady and I’m not a youngster INDIANAPOLIS — It will soon cost slightly more to park in metered spaces in downtown Indianapolis and Broad Ripple ParkIndy announced rates for parking spaces in “Zone 1” and “Zone 4” will increase from $1.75 an hour to $2.00 an hour beginning February 1 The price increase does not include metered parking in “Zone 2” or “Zone 3.” Those will stay at $1.25 an hour Parking hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m Parking is also free on the following days: For more information, click here I’m already looking forward to seeing you back here next week for our usual mix of updates, news, and scoops. And remember, you can make sure you’ll never miss The Feed by subscribing to The Dish increases in rent and a decline in sales prompted the closure The full cause of the closure remains unknown the company wrote on December 30 that “Carmel will always hold a special place in our hearts and we will forever cherish the moments and connections we’ve built here.” Fluff Bake Shop celebrated its grand opening in Noblesville on January 2. There’s no website or online menu, but photos posted to social media depict doughnuts Milan Pasta Kitchen, a delivery-only pasta shop operating from an undisclosed location, launched last weekend with a menu of “build your own pasta” dishes. Based on the info available on its online ordering platform orders must be placed slightly over a day in advance with delivery in the late afternoon/early evening Contact them directly via https://www.filigreebakery.com/partnerships Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" We are a family-owned franchise system based out of Fishers we've been publishing monthly community magazines in Indiana and Kentucky © 2025 Towne Post Network - franchises available in Indiana © 2025 Towne Post Network - franchises available in Indiana Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...