City Market closure date set as entire city block prepares for facelift

Indianapolis’s City Market will temporarily close while the redevelopment of that city block gets underway. 

The historic Market House currently houses 16 vendors, about half its capacity. Businesses got word the market would have to close for planned renovations this fall. The city announced that vendors will receive free rent for January and February 2024, ahead of the coming March 1 closure. The city said renovations could last up to two years.

Market business has struggled over the past few years between the pandemic, road construction and offices moving from the nearby City-County Building. The announcement of the redevelopment of the block where the market is located did not originally include the market closure, but the need became clear as the project progressed.

The $200 million City Market Campus redevelopment project is a partnership between the city, Gershman Partners, and Citimark. As part of an agreement, the partners will look to hire a private company to operate the market when it reopens. Current vendor Tomlinson Tap, which serves Indiana craft beer, will serve as an anchor of the new space.

The Indianapolis City Market Corporation, a nonprofit that has run the market since the late 80s, will no longer manage day-to-day operations. It will turn towards the support of local food entrepreneurship through the Original Farmer’s Market and other programming.

The redevelopment of the block includes more than 400 new housing units. A new 11-story building will be erected and the Gold Building will be rehabbed.

The City-County Council approved $17 million for the campus renovation of the Market House, the pedestrian alleyway and the west plaza.

The last time the market underwent renovations was in 2010. An emphasis on small businesses operations has been a continued focus at the market.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.