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Citing an increase in rent costs and upcoming roadwork on Broad Ripple Avenue, Sun King Brewery plans to serve its final customers at the company’s Broad Ripple taproom on Dec. 19.
Sun King co-founder Dave Colt described the decision to close Sun King Barrel House Broad Ripple as a “temporary break” from the neighborhood known for entertainment and nightlife.
Colt said Indianapolis-based Sun King likely will have a Broad Ripple presence in the future, but not at the same 1021 Broad Ripple Ave. address where Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. sold beer and food from 2011 to 2019. Sun King purchased the Thr3e Wise Men business at auction in 2019.
The Sun King site is part of the Broad Ripple Station retail center managed by Indianapolis-based LOR Corp. Attempts to reach a representative of LOR for comment were unsuccessful.
With construction on Broad Ripple Avenue between College and Primrose avenues planned for several months in 2022, Colt said a decrease in traffic and potential customers is inevitable. According to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, segments of Broad Ripple Avenue will be closed across four months next year. The closures will affect one block at a time. The makeover will include upgraded stormwater infrastructure, widened sidewalks and new traffic signals.
“We are very thankful for the folks who visited our Broad Ripple location,” Colt said. “We are sad to say we are ceasing operations momentarily.”
Colt said no staff layoffs will accompany the taproom’s closing.
“Everybody who works for Sun King Broad Ripple has been offered an opportunity to pick another location and go to work,” he said.
Sun King, which opened its owntown brewery in 2009, has satellite locations in Fishers, Carmel, Kokomo and at Indianapolis International Airport.
Thr3e Wise Men was a Scotty’s Brewhouse property. Indiana native Scott Wise sold the Scotty’s Brewhouse chain in 2016, and Scotty’s Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection two years later.
Wise and a team of investors presently own Roots Burger Bar in Muncie. He plans to open Roots locations in Indianapolis and Carmel by February.
When Sun King opened its Broad Ripple location, the company brought on seafood restaurant Offshore as the onsite food vendor. Offshore subsequently was replaced by burger restaurant One Trick Pony.
Although One Trick Pony will exit Broad Ripple with Sun King, the companies will maintain an association in Hamilton County. One Trick Pony occupies one of the counter-service stalls at Fishers Test Kitchen, which operates at Sun King’s taproom at Fishers District.
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So happy after they totally supported those who tore down our city last year. We quit selling their beer and maybe they will see the back lash of their decision last year.
Can you offer some insight on how they supported those who rioted / looted?
If so, they’ve lost another big supporter.
If you are so proud of your decision to cancel them, say the name of your place.
Dang, didn’t realize Sun King totally supported IMPD.
Me as well. They donated a portion of their sales summer 2020 to the Bail Project, which facilitated the release of the people that successfully destroyed portions of downtown. More recently, the Bail Project facilitated the release of violent individuals that went on to murder several people. Sun King = SJWs
Yawn
That spot is doomed
A restaurant in business for 8 years, followed by 3 years through a pandemic is not bad for the restaurant industry.
Former A & P grocery store and Peaches record store…. Let’s put together a chronological history of tenants. Pretty sure Bud Wolfe Chevrolet was at that location but I don’t think they occupied that building.
A & P
Peaches
Thre3e Wise Men
Sun King
Add Sunflower Market, pre-Thr3e Wise Men.
Wasn’t Thrifty Threads there for a while?
I think it was bookstore in the early 90’s as well.
Breweries just don’t seem to be a good fit for Broad Ripple. Triton closed their tap room a while back, and now Sun King.
I think the concept of only having one food vendor is a bit odd, and why they haven’t tried to duplicate the food hall of Sun King Carmel is anyone’s guess. Especially with how successful Bottleworks has been, it is clear there is demand for it.
the kids are all drinking fruity seltzers…
sun king sells seltzers, they’re good!
Man! I miss 3WiseMan. I wanted this place to succeed, but the food was….not great.
For some reason most of the landlords in Broad RIpple would rather have their buildings empty rather than charge a reasonable rent.
The Mexican food/bar wave endures, probably because food costs are fairly low and local palates don’t appear to be as scrutinous with this category. You almost can’t go wrong there, it seems.
my one experience was that the food was just plain awful
The burgers and onion rings at One Trick Pony are amazing! Will miss that.
Totally agree, will miss the burgers and onion rings as well, they even bought there beef locally.
Can One Trick Pony stay but the beer leave?
And yes, there was a Waldenbooks there a long time ago.
Hate to see a place close but was never a fan of 90 percent of their beers. St. Joseph Brewery does a much better job all the way around.
Thomas is on it. Theirs plenty more… Sunking tried to play both sides but ask any officer off the record you’ll get the truth.
My (2) cents here as I love BR. In my humble opinion BR needs more family / kid friendly eats. Quick suggestion: increase the outside seating and bring on “Torchys Taco – Broad Ripple”.
never understood the success of Sun King…quite honestly, their beers are not very good at all. I laugh when I see them charging $12 for a can of their bad stuff at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. I guess some people are crazy enough to pay that outrageous amount.