Broad Ripple’s Alley Cat Lounge to expand space, dining options

The Alley Cat Lounge, 6267 Carrollton Ave., debuted in Broad Ripple in 1975. (IBJ photo/Dave Lindquist)

The owners of Broad Ripple’s Alley Cat Lounge plan to expand the business in October by opening a dining and drinking area in the adjacent former location of the Egyptian Cafe and Hookah Bar.

The Alley Cat, 6267 Carrollton Ave., will lease and occupy all 9,000 square feet of the building, which previously included the Egyptian Cafe until that business moved down the block to 6220 Carrollton Ave. in February.

Lori Davis, who owns the Alley Cat with her cousin, Russell Record, said taking over the space next door will transform the schedule and perhaps the identity of a business long recognized as one of the signature dive bars of Indianapolis.

The Alley Cat bar at the east end of the building traditionally has opened for breakfast at 7 a.m. and closed at 3 a.m. In 2014, the Alley Cat added what’s become known as the “front room” and a Carrollton Street entrance.

Customers can expect the new part of the Alley Cat to be the first to open each day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from a larger kitchen than what’s found in the original bar—which will adjust its opening time to early evening.

“This is going to enable us to expand our food operations so we can become maybe more of a restaurant than a bar,” Davis said.

Record said the business will expand its culinary theme nights from one to three, adding fish and tacos to the already established steak night. He expects more than 20 employees will work in the three parts of the unified Alley Cat.

The decor of the expansion is highlighted by cat-themed murals painted by artist Matthew Aaron, and dart boards will be available for play. Beer will be served from 16 taps behind the bar.

Established in 1975, the Alley Cat was purchased two years later by Ray Modlin, Davis’ father and Record’s uncle. Modlin died in 2016.