History

The ghosts of signs past, present, and future 👻

Exterior of building with Colonial Bread advertisement

The building in Fountain Square is now an indigenous-owned tattoo shop. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Thanksgiving is over, which means it’s officially time to put up the holiday decorations, sip on some hot cocoa, and sit by the fire reading a little Dickens.

However, if you don’t have time to crack open “A Christmas Carol,” we’re putting a spin on the old classic, INDYtoday style, by exploring some of the city’s past, present, and future business signs.

Ghost of signs past

Colonial Bakery had its heyday back in the 1950s, but you can still see remnants of its popularity in places like Fountain Square and the Old Northside. The bread maker made headlines again in 2019, when its old warehouse site near 25th Street and College Avenue got cleaned up. Apparently, the soil in the area had been contaminated by heavy metals and the top soil had to be removed for environmental purposes.

Exterior of building with Quaker Oats mural — If you’re heading east off of the I-70 Washington Street exit, you won’t miss this mural.

Ghost of signs present

It may not seem like it, but the retro mural representing a number of bygone businesses is actually fairly new. Artist Blice Edwards restored the faded signage to its present-day glory using an enhanced photo as a reference point. It’s painted on the side of the former Angie’s List building and incorporates several old businesses, like FFF Coffee Company, Quaker Oats, Walker Candy Factory, and Henry’s Bee Keeping Supplies.

Ghost of signs future

Bootleg Signs is a local biz that loves local biz, and we keep seeing more of its hand-painted work popping up around the city. If you’ve stopped by Zodiac Vintage and admired its Western-style sandwich board or walked along 10th Street for some Rabble Coffee or picked up groceries from Wildwood Market, you’ve seen its work. Though commissions are currently closed, we know we’ll be seeing a lot more of Bootleg in the future.

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Nov. 28

Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | Monday, Nov. 28 | 8:15 p.m. | Lucas Oil Stadium | $95-$620 | Cheer on the Colts all the way to a winning game.
Butler Ballet presents: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker | Thursday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 4 | Times vary | Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis | $25*

Tuesday, Nov. 29

Tiny House Ornament Pottery Class | Tuesday, Nov. 29, Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Gravesco, 1501 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis | $45 | Make your own tiny house village at this sculpture workshop — no previous pottery experience required.

Thursday, Dec. 1

Yelp’s Merry Mash-Ups: Hip Hop Holiday Ride at Rise House Fitness Studio | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 6-7 p.m. | Rise House Fitness Studio, 537 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis | Free | If you have a Yelp profile, hit this complimentary 45-minute cycling class followed by The Missing Brick pizza.
Jurassic World Live Tour | Thursday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 7 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | $20-$100 | The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

47º | Mostly cloudy | 9% chance of rain

Development

For the first time since it opened in 2008, IND is taking concrete steps to look into the feasibility of a hotel on its grounds. The Indianapolis Airport Authority’s board hired on the CSO architecture firm to evaluate the project’s engineering needs and costs and the process is expected to take six months. 🏨 (IBJ)

Cause

The YMCA Holiday Toy Drive is back, serving over 3,200 youth. The drive-thru event will take place at the Avondale Meadows YMCA on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you’re in the giving spirit this year, make a donation. 🎁

Hoosier

New-to-Indy Joey Chestnut is defending his world record once again at the ninth annual St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3. He’ll be competing against the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 ranked competitive eaters this year to down at least 18 pounds (~186 shrimp) in eight minutes. 🍤

List

Looking for a dose of Vitamin Sea this season? Indianapolis Monthly compiled a list of four caviar dishes you can find around the Circle City, including the Julienned Potato at Bar One Fourteen, and a Bougie Benedict at Gallery Pastry Bar. See the other two. 🐟 (Indianapolis Monthly)

Asked

Indy is home to many festive events, festivals, and happenings. So we want to know: what local holiday tradition do you love? Whether it’s community-wide or something you love to do with your family, let us know and we may share it in an upcoming newsletter. ⛄

Sports

Get the outdoor enthusiast in your life a gift that delivers year-round. The Sportsman’s Box is a quarterly gear subscription of personalized boxes that match your loved ones’ customized profile of hunting and fishing interests. Bonus: Use code for 6AMCITY for 25% off your first shipment. *

Shop

Trying to find the perfect gift for that special someone who seems to already have it all? Check out Uncommon Goods — an online marketplace for unique and globally-sourced gifts. A few of our favorites include this personalized bamboo cheese board, pickleball paddle tote bag, and indoor s’mores fire pit. 🎁*

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Saving money the cyber way

There’s still time to catch these deals. | Graphic provided by 6AM City

If you missed our Black Friday deals, you’re in luck because our online store Six & Main still has amazing savings just for you.

Shop up to 40% off gifts for the homebody, party host, pet lover, and adventurer in your life.

Take advantage of these deals:

$10 off when you spend $50
$30 off when you spend $100
$60 off when you spend $150

Oh, we’ve got more gifts…

SAVE + SHOP NOW

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anna.

Editor’s pick: Speaking of “A Christmas Carol,” there is not one, not two, but four different performances of the classic story in Indy this season. You can catch Scrooge and his spirited sidekicks at the IRT from now until Dec. 24, Beef & Boards Friday, Dec. 2-Tuesday, Dec. 20, the Indiana History Center on Saturday, Dec. 3, and the District Theatre Thursday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 18. Talk about “Bah! Humbug!”

Connect with us.

Editorial: Anna Bowman, Nicole Hernandez, Sarah Leonhardt, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Nicole Fancher | Advertise with us.

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