In a time when we can't all gather around a table, we can still come together as a community. We're Open Indy is a partnership between WRTV and our local restaurants and businesses with one goal: getting them through this tough time. Every day, we will help shine a light on the businesses that make up our community by telling their stories and rallying around those who are keeping the grills going, the hospitals running, and the businesses operating.
INDIANAPOLIS — Downtown Indianapolis is pretty quiet for now, but business is continuing for some. A historic part of the city is still saying, 'We're open.'
For nearly 180 years, City Market has served as the hub of downtown Indianapolis. But these days the market sits mostly quiet. The tables here waiting for a return to something more normal. But in every corner of the market, some hard-working restaurants are continuing their missing of feeding the Circle City.
"Everyone is taking these punches like a champ," Josie Taylor, public relations for City Market, said. "Seeing how business is happening now, there's not people dining in. It's in and out. That's one of the biggest changes they're dealing with."
Roughly half of City Market's tenants are doing takeout and delivery business. Most of them doing it with a staff of just one or two but they're all working to make some big adjustments as well.
"When I moved over here it was our best week in March, right before all of this and I've been here since 2017," Michael Gomez, owner of Gomez BBQ, said.
"Obviously, we're very concerned about our staff's well-being," Cara Lozano, manager of Mile Square Coffee, said. "We're really keeping going out of concern for them. I want them to have a job to come back to."
A cup of coffee, a fresh pastry, a hot lunch — all of it to go.
Circle City Sweets is one business seeing a rise in their orders.
"We're getting a lot of first-time customers," Cindy Hawkins, of Circle City Sweets, said. "People need to keep doing local, realize there are a ton of great restaurants around Indianapolis, really keep it going."
City Market hopes to open to customers again once the state's stay-at-home order is lifted. Until then, these businesses will make do as best they can.
