20 apartments for rent in Fountain Square, Indianapolis, IN

Less than a mile southeast of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, residents and community groups work to preserve the history and character of the Fountain Square Cultural District, a close-knit, self-described “funky” urban village.

Beginning in the 1870s this area saw a period of rapid growth, fueled by the large number of German immigrants who helped to establish the character of the neighborhood. As Virginia Avenue began to emerge as the community’s commercial corridor a large number of new businesses and services opened, including the Fountain Square State Bank, a post office, grocery stores, Wiese-Wenzel Pharmacy, the Sommer-Roempke Bakery, a hardware store and much more. The neighborhood also played a part in the heritage of Indianapolis theater, with more operating theaters than any other community in Indianapolis from 1910 to 1950.

Today, Fountain Square thrives with a fresh crop of restaurants, businesses, recreational facilities and public spaces. The area is attracting a wave of trendy young families who want room for children in an established neighborhood close to jobs and culture in the city.

The signature fountain is back, as is the Fountain Square Theatre Building on Shelby Street. Built in 1928, it originally housed an elaborate movie theater, a basement ballroom complete with speakeasy, and commercial space. The theater closed in 1960, and was later gutted to accommodate a Woolworth’s store. Restoration began in 1993, and today, the building once again offers entertainment in the restored theatre, along with duckpin bowling in two vintage alleys, overnight accommodations, independent shops, an original 1950s soda fountain and a contemporary cafe. On summer evenings, rooftop dining offers a spectacular view of the Indianapolis skyline.

Popular restaurants in this community include Santorini Greek Kitchen; the Peppy Grill, a neighborhood institution; Iaria’s Italian Restaurant, serving Italian favorites for more than 70 years; Siam Square, the only Thai restaurant in the downtown Indianapolis area; and Smokehouse on Shelby.