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Starbucks is planning a return to the core of downtown Indianapolis, more than a year after the high-profile closure of the coffee chain’s store on Monument Circle.
A Starbucks store is slated to open inside the Kite Realty Group Trust building at 30 S. Meridian St. in spring 2024 as part of multiple upgrades planned for the property in the coming months.
The coffee shop will take the space last occupied by Indianapolis-based Patachou Inc.’s pizza restaurant, The Napolese, which closed in August 2021. At 2,700 square feet, the store will be about 35% larger than an average Starbucks location.
The location is less than two blocks south of the Starbucks that closed at 55 Monument Circle in October 2022 after two decades at the site. Starbucks cited concerns about safety of its employees when it announced the closure. Local company Command Coffee plans to take over the space by the end of the year.
Starbucks has only a handful of locations in the Mile Square: in the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis lobby at 1 S. Capitol Ave.; in the Simon Tower at 225 W. Washington St.; in the Kroger at 227 W. Michigan St.; at 430 N. Massachusetts Ave.; and at 414 W. Vermont St.
“Starbucks is always looking for great locations to better meet the needs of our customers and we are happy to confirm that a new licensed location will be opening,” at the Kite building, a spokesperson for the company said in a written statement. “Our first priority is to make sure that green apron partners are safe at work.”
The coffee shop is among several improvements planned for the 11-story office building that was once home to the L.S. Ayres & Co. department store chain’s business offices and is now headquarters for Indianapolis-based Kite.
Tom McGowan, president and chief operating officer for Kite, said in written remarks the addition of Starbucks “aligns perfectly” with Kite’s plans for South Meridian Street, as the project is expected to bring some minor ground-level facade improvements to the northern part of the building’s main entrance.
Other improvements set for the Kite building include renovations to the main lobby, and a full overhaul of the eighth floor into a building amenity with updated common areas, meeting rooms, conference spaces and a bar. A cost for the renovation, which will be completed next year, was not disclosed by Kite.
The building was constructed in 1905 and last renovated in 2002. Kite has owned the property for more than 25 years through holding company Kite Washington LLC.
The Kite building is 97% occupied with tenants including Carrier Corp.; CREA LLC, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Independent Colleges of Indiana and Moser Consulting Inc.
Lumina Foundation is also a tenant, but plans to vacate its space in 2024 as it moves to the wedge-shaped building under construction at Bottleworks District, on the corner of Massachusetts and College avenues.
“The upgrades to 30 South Meridian reflect our commitment to growth, adaptation, and meeting the ever-evolving needs of our diverse tenants,” McGowan said in written remarks. “With this renovation, we’re focusing on elevated aesthetics and functionality to ensure the building continues to provide a dynamic, inviting, and collaborative environment.”
The design firm on the project is Ratio Architects.
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This was the plan the whole time!
So downtown Indy isn’t the crime ridden h3llhole that Starbuck’s and a lot of commenters that don’t live down here tried to tell us?!?
I suspect the closure might have had to do more with anti-union actions. That seems to be more in line with Starbucks corporate philosophy of opening and closing stores.
Bingo Dan!
The problem is that the state of Indiana has no interest in funding the low barrier shelter that Indianapolis studied and planned.
But lots of people complain about the homeless, but don’t seem to be as upset when plans to do something about it get buried.
Starbucks cited CRIME. Have you been attending Joe’s meetings or what?
Tony Katz is absolutely sobbing right now
Why??
The panhandling and homelessness was rediculious on Monument Circle.
Clutching his pearls, for sure.
Oh god, not a couple people with signs scaring away people who can’t even spell ridiculous. The horror!
You know what, I totally get it. The panhandlers would scare me too if I couldn’t read their signs. They might be satanic or have a chapter of a banned novel.
The panhandlers and homeless were also harassing people. The
police were being called out to that location frequently.
It wasn’t your money or capital at stake so it it is easy to be dismissive.
Keith B, check the link to the article about last year’s store closing. Starbucks never reached out to police or other city officials about any concerns. Corporate put out a blanket statement about closings in multiple cities without any details or actual examples of problems. The fact that they’re now opening a new store a block away demonstrates it was a sham.
I plan to patronize Command Coffee’s new place on Monument Circle, and won’t set foot in the new Starbucks.
+1
Good, Ed. Makes more room for me and my friends.
I’m so glad to hear that Starbucks will be in a safe location, unlike the location a block away that was so dangerous they had to leave.
It’s not about safety. Never was.
Gotta look closer at these issues, never trust their PR.
Agreed.
Starbucks had long standing locations in the Westin, the Marriott, and the JW Marriott it has also apparently closed, which further suggests the Monument Circle closure was not just about safety, if it ever was.
Correction, the JW Marriott Starbucks is still open.
The “licensed” locations IMO have way less quality control than the actual corporate run locations.
Not that Starbucks is some coffee nirvana, but I avoid their licensed locations at all costs.
I’ve found the differences have gotten smaller over the past few years. Example – airport Starbucks have become more consistent in my experience.
Can you get better coffee elsewhere? Yeah. But it’s consistent enough and the online ordering is a big plus.
Why does Starbucks get such an amazing amount to press? It’s a coffee shop for crying out loud.
It’s because Starbucks such a huge chain whose clientele demographics are well known. Starbucks is a real estate market indicator.
It’s “news” because it fits the preset agenda. All is well in the Hogsett/Carson utopia! Don’t look behind the curtain! Cops Bad!
#journalism