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The owner of the Indiana Pacers has tabbed local restaurateur Mike Cunningham to operate the culinary and entertainment facility now under construction next to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
To be named Commission Row, the $20 million project from Pacers Sports & Entertainment owner Herb Simon is set to feature an upscale restaurant, a basement-level speakeasy-style tavern and a private event space, all of which would be managed by Indianapolis-based Cunningham Restaurant Group.
The 30,000-square-foot building is being developed on a former surface parking lot between the arena and an existing four-story building at the southwest corner of Delaware and Maryland streets. It will be directly east of the adjoining 1.5-acre Bicentennial Unity Plaza currently under construction.
“For us, this is the right partner at the right time,” Rick Fuson, president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, told IBJ. “We like Cunningham Restaurant Group a lot, and we think they’re going to do great things here. And to have somebody like this who knows not only the food business, but the event business—it’s critical, because it means that we’re not having to try and reinvent the wheel.”
Founded 25 years ago by Mike Cunningham, CRG operates a portfolio of more than three dozen establishments across 16 eatery concepts, as well as an event center at The Shops at Perry Crossing in Plainfield. In addition to its nearly two dozen restaurants across central Indiana, CRG operates restaurants in Evansville, South Bend and Fort Wayne, as well as in Ohio and Kentucky.
Cunningham said he views the venture as an opportunity to bring CRG into the core of downtown Indianapolis, after many years of operating restaurants in the suburbs and on the edges of downtown, such as Bru Burger and The Livery in the Mass Ave corridor.
“This is going to be quite the landmark restaurant location, given the sheer size, volume and quality of the building,” Cunningham said. “It’s a situation where our vision for the space aligned with that of the Pacers. It doesn’t hurt that I’m a big basketball fan, so I spend a lot of time in the arena as it is. It’ll be great having something so special right next door.”
The Commission Row restaurant will seat about 220 people, with offerings that are expected to include seafood and steak, although a full menu has not yet been finalized. Cunningham said the eatery will also be able to use an upstairs patio space for outdoor dining, although it could also be used as ancillary space for private events.
The event center, called Above at Commission Row, will seat up to 260 people for weddings, corporate parties and other special occasions.
The speakeasy, which will be called Mel’s at Commission Row—in honor of late Pacers co-owner Melvin Simon—will accommodate about 110 people and is expected to offer a more casual, sharable food menu. Cunningham described the ambiance of the tavern as “dark, and kind of sexy,” similar to the members-only The Bemberg concept that opened last year at 608 N. Park Ave.
The three spaces will employ a combined 250 people, Cunningham said.
The original concept for the restaurant was more along the lines of a sports bar, but Cunningham and PSE opted to go a different direction due to the number of similar offerings nearby. Cunningham said CRG worked closely with the Pacers to come up with a new idea that really focuses on meeting the needs of upper-tier ticket buyers, while keeping it accessible to all who might have an interest in dining at the building.
“It’s great to have a partner like [Simon and the Pacers], that can give you everything that you need to be successful,” Cunningham said. “Obviously we’ve done it for ourselves for a long time, but in this case, we’re coming in to operate this thing. So, to partner with Herb and see his vision of what he wants this arena district to be, it’s going to be a legacy project and we’re just thrilled to be involved in it.”
Operating a building so closely tied to Gainbridge Fieldhouse will have its logistical challenges, particularly the restaurant portion. But Cunningham acknowledged it’s also nothing new for many other downtown dining locations that have coped with the same challenges over the years.
“There’s going to be a surge that you’ll tend to have with a concert or game—thousands of people going to the arena, and everyone wants to have dinner at 6 o’clock before the show,” he said. “But other than that, it really comes down to being hospitable and trying to create the best dining experience we possibly can for our guests. We want to make sure the value proposition is met with great energy and enthusiasm. It’s what we enjoy doing.”
Commission Row is expected to open in time for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game at the Fieldhouse in February, when it could receive a lot of attention from visitors and the media. That’s because it’s one of several investments that are being made in that area of downtown by the Simon family.
Another project—a $300 million redevelopment of the former CSX building across Pennsylvania Street from the Fieldhouse—is expected to feature an upscale hotel and hundreds of apartments, with connectivity to the arena.
PSE also bought the former DLZ building at Delaware and Maryland Streets in November 2020 for $8.4 million and renamed it the PSE Building, expanding its office operations there and establishing a temporary box office during renovations.
That building, 147 E. Maryland St., is now home to the company’s marketing, sales and digital staff, as well as meeting spaces for large internal gatherings. Most PSE executive offices and community relations remain in the nearby Ascension St. Vincent Center, 201 Delaware St.
All that investment comes as the Pacers complete a $360 million renovation to the Fieldhouse—$295 million paid for with public funds.
Fuson has said Commission Row is the result of a PSE study of entertainment districts near other sports venues such as Chicago’s Wrigleyville and Milwaukee’s Deer District, in an effort to determine what could be done in Indianapolis.
He said the moves to create what has become a burgeoning entertainment campus in the Wholesale District shows the Simon family’s commitment to the city as a long-term home for its sports franchises. What’s more, he said, it’s a sign that downtown Indianapolis continues to be an important hub for visitors and residents.
“We’re really looking forward to Commission Row opening, because it’s going to be another great asset to downtown,” Fuson said. “We also look forward to a year, or two, or three from now where everyone’s realizing that downtown is really thriving—where people say, ‘It was great that you all believed in downtown.’ I think it’s going to be fantastic.”
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I agree with Rick Fuson, it’s going to be fantastic!!!
What’s the latest on the proposed bar that Sardar Biglari wanted to open next to this space?
Good question. I hope that he falls on his face since he’s driven Steak N Shake into the ground..
what, you don’t want to visit the Sarbar and order drinks from a touchscreen kiosk and be nickel and dimed, at a rooftop bar that isn’t actually a rooftop bar?
It might last shorter than the Nate Bjorkgren, if that’s even possible.
As season tickets holders we are very excited about this development. My only suggestion would be to tell Cunningham group not to scrimp on the menu/food quality. We love your restaurants but your changes at Bru downtown (food and managers) after the pandemic has removed us from their “regulars list”. Looking forward to trying all the businesses at this new development.
I’m disappointed. This sounds like a very nice development but for a development directly next to the Pacer’s Stadium, I was hopping for something more commoner friendly not so much pandering to those with deep pockets. What makes Wringlyville and Deer District awesome is that business there are for everyone and from that become essential parts of the community specially the common sports fan.
I live within 5 mins of walking from gainbridge field house and I probably go to about 10 to 15 games a year. From how Commission Row is being described, I don’t see myself going more than once or twice a year. If I going to a game or a concert, I want something quick and causal. Not a high scale steak and seafood restaurant, there’s plenty of those around. I want a place that I can meet up with friends before or after and have a quick beer.
I also realize that there serval places near by that also meet that description such as Kilroy’s or district tap. But with the project being located directly next to the stadium, I thought they could have made it there own and offer up something more unique. such as a place to have watch parties or an extension off the plaza that could offer outside dinning along with a balcony bar that Indy needs more of.
This along with the other improvement the Pacers have made to stadium (suits, courtside lounges, and premier side clubs) just feels like its all for those with deep pockets. I wish there was more for common folks.
There are dozens of “fast casual” dining establishments within your 5 minute walk to Gainbridge. To have devoted this prime space to “just another” restaurant/bar would have been short-sighted. Yes, attending professional sporting events has become a costly proposition. But for many, attending one or two games a year is a special, big deal. So too would be experiencing Commission Row when it opens. You only live once, might as well make the most of it.
There is going to be a more causal establishment down stairs that sounds more inline with what you are wanting.
Cool,what’s next?! Continue.
With the deteriorating downtown area that included 23 restaurants closing permanently leaving no place for the average nor deep pocketed individual to catch a meal prior to a professional sports teams event and/or concert, etc. Commission Row will hopefully reverse the deterioration of the downtown area and “start” to fill the gap created by the exit of so many restaurants from the downtown area and start the journey to bring the downtown area back to par with other major cities to enable Indianapolis to attract major events.
No place to catch a meal before a game? I count at least 50 restaurants within a four block radius of the fieldhouse, haha.
No matter your position on the development, it’s good to even see developers taking a chance on downtown Indy. The Simon’s have dedicated a lot of money into downtown indy over the years. Places like Louisville would love to have such a jewel to help develop their city. Indy cells itself the amateur capital of the world, well developments like this and more are needed to live up to the claim. Great Job Simons and I’m hearing they have plans to develop a hotel and apartment building just up the street as well.
Kevin P.
From what I’ve heard and read, Simmons are deveopimg an apartment building
and a hotel.
I would like to see Simmons combine the two and build one major building
that would probably wind up being around 450 feet tall.
I would like to see the city assist in that if possible.
It would be the first major building of over 400 feet high to be built in almost
35 years. Longer than any of our peer cities.
A building around 450 feet tall would be a great addition to our skyline
and serve as a major focal point & signature building for Simmons.
A true win/win for the city and Simmons.
Skylines ( new towers being built ) show confidence, pride, vitality,
and progress.
Keith B I like your idea. I wonder do city leaders and developers ever take a peek at the comments we leave on these topics?
Kevin P.
Thanks
I think city leaders should read the comment sections regarding economic development especially.
We some very knowledgeable people in our community, especially on this
IBJ website.
Many smart well informed people with sensible ideas that could help
the city grow and prosper.
It’s very difficult to contact our city leaders and get feedback let alone an
acknowledgment of an idea. The bureaucracy is unbelievable at the
Indianapolis Development of Metropolitan Development. They won’t return
an email let alone acknowledge it.
Other local chamber of commerce agencies same thing. Bureaucracies.
I think we have some very talented individuals running some of these
organizations. The problem is a lack of coordination with other agencies
and local developers.
Too bureaucratic
Like the rest of the upgrades to the Fieldhouse, is this development subsidized with taxpayer dollars? If so, I feel bad for the other restaurants in the area that don’t have that advantage.
As I understand it, Commission Row as well the proposed hotel and apartment building are being fully funded by the Simons (so you can relax that grip on your wallet).