After having grown up on Indy's Northwestside and lived either there or downtown most of my life,…read moreI've spent the last 12+ years as a passionate and enthusiastic Eastsider. Now that I burned the mortgage papers on my home (Don't worry. I paid it off first!), it's pretty much established that I'm here to stay.
There's an Eastside vibe that I really love that vibe really comes to life in Circle City Industrial Complex, a behemoth of repurposed buildings that weaves together the tapestry of life that I love about living on the Eastside including the industrial, the arts, the dedication to life, the creativity, the makers, the shakers, and the incredibly practical.
I'll be honest and say that I initially avoided CCIC. It seemed intimidating, parking was confusing, and wheelchair access can be a little hit-and-miss in spots as different sections have gotten repurposed. I remember at one point attending a Yelp event here and thinking "This is exactly why I don't come here." It was, quite honestly, a bit of a pain in the butt for a wheelchair user.
However, things continue to improve. And, perhaps more importantly, every time I come here I appreciate it and I enjoy myself.
What can you find here?
There's participation in the First Friday Art Walk.
There's the delightfully spot-on Centerpoint Brewing - the first actual spot I visited here at CCIC.
There's 8th Day Distillery, Fowling Warehouse Indy, Lick Ice Cream, SoChatti, New Day Craft.
There's a myriad of artists.
There's Dance Kaleidoscope. There's Glass Arts Indy. There's the Indiana Writers Center. There's Stitchworks, JK Guitar, Indy Fused Glass, and more.
With over a half-million square feet, CCIC looks intimidating and is a little intimidating. There are four key entrances and it really is helpful to know the suite number of where you're going. The big entrance by Centerpoint primarily serves Centerpoint and its adjacent spots. There's a large parking lot across the street that provides key access to other entrances.
Oh, and despite being industrial there is actually an elevator to the second floor.
CCIC really is the foundation that spurred the growth of Windsor Park, a growth that has complemented the neighborhood rather than dominated it. Nearby spots like Kan-Kan, Brasserie, Amelia's, and others are adding even more personality and style to the area.
I love that artists located here are actually required to participate in First Friday events. This really is a communal space and they work hard to keep that vibe. Did you know that CCIC has 60 protected artists' spots? This means they will only rent these spaces to artists (and they review portfolios!).
There's so much to love here. They are currently updating the oldest section at 1101 Mass Avenue - a space planned to offer restaurant space, retail, and performance space. You can even tell in the design plans that accessibility will be vastly improved.
If you've never checked out Circle City Industrial Complex, I highly recommend it. It's one of Eastside Indy's crown jewels.
