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Social Cantina, a restaurant known for its Mexican-inspired menu of tacos, burritos and bowls, plans to open a location this fall in a distinctive building at the intersection of 46th Street and College Avenue in Indianapolis.
The Art Moderne building, which opened as a Kroger grocery store in 1932, was home to Gallery Pastry Shop from 2023 until its closure in January 2025.
Social Cantina, part of the Bloomington-based Finney Hospitality Group, plans to add an exterior mural to the building, 4573 N. College Ave., by artist Kimmy Wachtel.
The Meridian-Kessler restaurant will be the sixth Social Cantina location, joining eateries in Bloomington, Carmel, Mishawaka, downtown Indianapolis and Nashville, Tennessee.
“After opening our first location outside of the state earlier this year in Nashville, Tennessee, we’re excited to be back home in Indiana,” said Chris Martin, president of Finney Hospitality Group, in a written statement issued Thursday.
Featuring dramatic curves and horizontal lines, the building at 46th and College was designed by Indianapolis firm Pierre & Wright, 20th-century architects responsible for the Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau and minor-league baseball’s Bush Stadium.
The 4,500-square-foot building was vacant from 2015—when a Double 8 grocery store closed—until Next Door American Eatery opened in 2018.
Next Door was a concept co-founded by Kimbal Musk, brother of Elon Musk. Next Door rebranded as ND StreetBar before closing in 2022.
Gershman Partners owns the 46th and College property and renovated it for Musk’s Next Door restaurant.
The portfolio of Finney Hospitality Group includes The Tap, a craft beer-focused restaurant with locations in Indianapolis, Bloomington and West Lafayette. At Concourse B of Indianapolis International Airport, The Tap operates independently in partnership with OHM Concession Group. Finney also owns and operates Yogi’s and SmokeWorks in Bloomington.
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