Photo by Tony Valainis
That sound you’re hearing is every IU alums’ group chat exploding. Cafe Pizzaria, a Bloomington pie and breadstick staple, abruptly closed on Wednesday, to the dismay of generations of IU students and area locals. The shop at 405 E. Kirkwood Ave. was in business for over 70 years, even as glossy high-rises and chain businesses crowded onto the iconic college town’s street. In a message posted this week to the restaurant’s website and social media, its owners wrote, “We have decided that it is time for us to retire and have more time to focus on family.” An effort to reach the management, who signed the announcement, “Larry, Sharon, David, Crosby, Katie, and Andrea,” has not received a response as of publication time. The Bloomingtonian notes that this is the second legacy business loss in the downtown area following the closure of the 42-year-old Irish Lion at 212 W. Kirkwood Ave. in May.
While we’re on Bloomington … IU’s Memorial Stadium has made sweeping changes to its food offerings, WTIU reports. New local vendors include Aver’s Pizza, Baked! of Bloomington, BuffaLouie’s, Everbowl, Social Cantina, and Yogi’s. “It was really important to us in our partnership to also introduce partners in restaurants that are locally known, places that students recognize, fans recognize, who have wonderful food and want to be here in the stadium,” says Jennifer Cox, the vice president of culinary experience at stadium dining partner Levy Restaurants.
The Circle City Industrial Complex got a little less sweet this week. Founded in 2013, local chocolate company SoChatti was unique for its focus on nondairy confections. In 2021, founder Matt Rubin opened a tasting room at 1125 E. Brookside Ave. and added events such as classes and wine tastings to its calendar. Rubin announced Thursday that the business would close for good, writing, “This decision is due to rising cacao prices and a strategic shift in our business focus.” Online sales have already ceased, but fans can snap up the remaining stock (which has been discounted by 25 percent) on September 4 and 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A couple local restaurants found themselves on the crime pages instead of the dining ones this week. Carmel food truck Bae Latin Food is typically parked at 14580 River Rd. in Carmel, but they announced via Instagram this week that the vehicle was stolen early Tuesday morning. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact the restaurant at 317-219-6205 or Carmel police at 317-571-2580. And in Indianapolis, George Nelson Sr., the owner of fried chicken standout Pa and Ma’s Backyard BBQ (2621 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.) was fatally shot in front of his business last week. Nelson’s daughter, Brockelle, tells Fox 59 she’ll make sure the restaurant remains open, saying, “My dad always talked about establishing institutions for the Black community, and so this is not just a restaurant.” A suspect was arrested and has been charged in the case.
Finally, a lot of new dining options appeared on the horizon this week.
· Per the IBJ, the Windermere Center strip mall (East 62nd Street and Allisonville Road) will welcome “Indian and American cuisine” spot Hannah’s Bar & Grill this fall, as well as breakfast and lunch venue Fire & Ice Cafe.
· The Hilton hotel company will turn Butler University’s shuttered Ross Hall (629 W. Hampton Dr.) into boutique lodgings and “a signature restaurant,” the Star reports, with an opening goal of the 2026–27 school year.
· The Fort Wayne franchisees for Colorado-based chain Dae Gee Korean BBQ are plotting five to eight restaurants across the Indianapolis area, with two more outposts each in Evansville, Bloomington, Lafayette, and South Bend, FSR reports. Locations and opening dates are TBA.
· Tony pickleball country club Pickle on Penn (11575 N. Pennsylvania St., Carmel) will open a restaurant in September called The Kitchen, the Star reports. Led by St. Elmo vet Carlesa Smith in the kitchen, its menu is already online and includes steak, pizza, salads, and wings.
