The landscape of Indianapolis' culinary scene has shifted once again with the recent closure of an established hot chicken restaurant in the Broad Ripple neighborhood. Joella's Hot Chicken, known for its fiery fowl and Southern-style sides, ceased operations at its 1072 Broad Ripple Avenue location as of last Sunday, surprising local patrons.
As detail that was effectively communicated on social media a day following the closure, "It is with heavy hearts that we announce our Broad Ripple location closed its doors for the final time on 1/26/25," the company expressed its sentiments in a statement obtained by FOX59. Known for their generous servings of jumbo tenders, the chain still operates other Indiana locales, rendering the Broad Ripple decision somewhat puzzling for onlookers.
Opened to the public in the fall of 2018, the 163-seat Broad Ripple venue was one of the first outposts of the Louisville, Kentucky-based chain to service the Indiana area. While the IndyStar reported no official reason for the closure, the establishment's gratitude remained clear: "We want to thank our team and guests who we have been fortunate to serve since we opened."
Despite the closure, Joella's fans are still able to indulge their cravings at three remaining Indiana-based venues, as informed by the brand's social media. These include a site at 4715 E. 96th, opened in January 2017, and an establishment at 2554 E. 146th St. in Carmel, opened in September 2020, with the Clarksville location rounding out the state's options. The chain, which has been serving spicy delights since its inception in 2015, preceded other competitive brands such as Dave's Hot Chicken and World Famous Hotboys. After the doors were closed to customers in Broad Ripple, another Joella's Hot Chicken on 96th Street in Indianapolis will remain operational, according to a report by WRTV.
