Indy’s International Marketplace, which has become a fixture along 38th Street on the west side, is being forced out of its building on Commercial Drive after it couldn’t reach a purchasing agreement with the property owner. Mary Clark, executive director of the International Marketplace Coalition, said they have to move out by March 31.
The coalition moved into the building about a year ago with the understanding that it would purchase the building. Clark said the loan approval process took longer than expected, and when it was finally approved in late February, Sandor Development, which owns the property, wanted terms that the coalition wouldn’t agree to.
Clark would not say what those terms were. Reached by phone, Brian Ziff, chief operating officer and general counsel for Sandor Development, said the company had no comment.
Indy’s International Marketplace was the central hub for the International Marketplace Coalition, which is made up of about 80 ethnic restaurants and 40 ethnic markets in a 2 1/2-quare-mile area. The organization put close to $100,000 into the building for painting, cleaning, an alarm system and a stage with audio and lighting. The building has donated artifacts from around the world that effectively make it a museum too.
“We know the work we’ve been doing has been showing this area … that we are a destination,” Clark said, “and we are creating a place that is welcoming to all.”
For now, Clark said the community has stepped up to help the marketplace, which will have temporary office space at what used to be Community Health Network Physical Therapy and Rehab on Guion Road. That building is now operated by The Saturday Evening Post, a nonprofit news organization. Other community organizations are offering to host some of the coalition’s planned events that probably would have been cancelled otherwise.
“When this community found out we were closing the doors to this building, they came in and said, ‘What can we do to make sure the work you’re doing doesn’t stop?’” Clark said. “This community has rallied together.”
Clark said the coalition’s loan approval is good for the next three months, and there are already some locations in the area leadership is looking at. For now, though, the coalition is asking for volunteers to help move out of the building on March 28, 29 and 30. Those interested should contact Maria Manalang at mmanalang@imcoalition.orgor call 317-332-8007.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
Indy’s International Marketplace holds artifacts and flags from different countries around the world. (Photo provided)
