Green District planning restaurant on Monument Circle

Fast-casual restaurant chain Green District plans to open its first Indianapolis location this spring, at 28 Monument Circle.

The space, on the southwest corner of the Circle, was previously occupied by a different fast-casual chain, Au Bon Pain. Au Bon Pain closed in March during the early stages of the pandemic and never reopened.

“We’re glad that we could secure that spot,” said Green District co-owner Chris Furlow. “If we didn’t secure it now, it might not be available next year.”

Furlow said he’s targeting a late spring opening for the restaurant, but he plans to make menu items available even before the location officially opens. He said he’s working on plans to make Green District food available for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament that’s set to take place entirely in Indianapolis starting March 18.

“Green District will have a presence for March Madness,” Furlow said, although he is still working on details.

Louisville-based Green District offers fresh-to-order salads, wraps and side items, including 11 signature chopped salads and customizable options. The company has three Louisville eateries plus another that opened last summer in Plainfield, in the Shops at Perry Crossing.

For a short time, the company had a franchised location in Fishers, but that store closed last fall because its franchisees moved to Texas for a job-related transfer that was not related to Green District, Furlow said.

Furlow said Green District plans to open at least two additional Indianapolis-area stores this year and is considering sites in Indianapolis’ Keystone Crossing area as well as Fishers and Carmel. The chain also plans to enter the Cincinnati and Nashville markets this year.

Furlow, who lives in New Albany, formed Green District in 2017 with Jordan Doepke and Matt Petty.

Green District’s growth is being fueled by an equity investment of an undisclosed amount that it received last year from Louisville-based investment firm The Castellan Group. Castellan’s goal is for Green District to grow its annual revenue to $100 million by 2026.