Demolition begins on Monon Square shopping center ahead of future Carmel development

Brittany Carloni, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read

Demolition began last week on the Monon Square shopping center on Range Line Road in Carmel, which is designated for a future city redevelopment project.

The older shopping mall just off the Monon trail was home to restaurants and stores such as Union Brewing Company and Jamaican Reggae Grill.

Many of the businesses at Monon Square have moved to new locations including Union Brewing, Roma Ristorante, Club Canine, Antique Emporium and PJ’s Alterations, according to the city.

More:Carmel to buy retail mall along the Monon for $15M

Demolition began last week on the Monon Square shopping plaza on Range Line Road.
Demolition began last week on the Monon Square shopping plaza on Range Line Road.

The Carmel Redevelopment Commission bought the strip mall in 2018 for $15 million with the intention to redevelop the property into apartments, condos, shops and park land, a project called Monon Square North.

Businesses in the shopping mall were notified in 2018 of the plans to demolish the property and month-to-month tenants were given a 12-month demolition warning, according to Carmel Redevelopment Director Henry Mestetsky

Vertical construction on Monon Square North will not start until late 2023, but utility work on the property will begin earlier, Mestetsky said in an email.

“It’s exciting to envision how the redevelopment of this site will connect Carmel’s City Center and Midtown districts,” Mestetsky said.

Before the start of demolition last week, Monon Square served as temporary locations for city of Carmel departments and the Carmel Clay Historical Society. The property also served as a training site for Carmel Police and Fire departments, according to Mestetsky.

Where some Monon Square Businesses are going

Is there another Monon Square business you'd like an update on? Email me at brittany.carloni@indystar.com.

Union Square Brewing

  • Status: Temporarily Closed

  • New location: West of the Monon and south of Monon Square

Jamaican Reggae Grill

  • Status: Temporarily Closed

  • New location: Not announced yet

Roma Ristorante

  • Status: Open

  • New location: 89 Veterans Way

Club Canine

  • Status: Open

  • New location: 921 N. Range Line Road

The Music Playhouse

  • Status: Open

  • New location: 755 W. Carmel Drive

Antique Emporium

  • Status: Open

  • New location: 170 W. Carmel Drive

PJ's Alterations

  • Status: Open

  • New location: 730 N. Range Line Road

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel's Monon Square shopping center is being demolished. Here's why