Grocery Hub, a new international supermarket, has quietly fired up the lights this week at 1435 W. 86th St. on Indianapolis' northwest side, taking over the long-familiar American International Market space and trying to give it a cleaner slate. The store has kept much of the former tenant's global flavor, from halal meat counters to an in-house bakery turning out pita and taboon, even as new owners keep workers busy on renovations. Staff say they tossed about a third of the old inventory to make room for fresher products and have opted to stay open while the upgrades continue. A bigger public grand opening is planned later this spring.
As reported by The Indianapolis Star, Grocery Hub has officially taken over the 1435 W. 86th St. storefront where AIM Mart opened in a former Marsh supermarket in 2022. The market fills roughly 39,000 square feet, and The Star notes that the new ownership team includes local operators who already run regional food businesses and wholesale operations. Manager Wafa Hussein told the paper that the goal is to build a supermarket "where basically everything you want is available."
What shoppers will find
Inside, customers will find a full bakery rolling out fresh pita and taboon breads, along with a meat department staffed by two butchers who sell only halal beef, lamb, goat and poultry. Specialty aisles stock Jewish, Asian, Hispanic and Eastern European products, so the average grocery run can easily turn into an international scouting trip. Shelves also feature organic eggs and milk sourced from Amish farms and glass-bottled sodas from Baghdad Soft Drinks Co., alongside more familiar mainstream brands.
The store includes a money-services counter and sections for furniture, toys, housewares and perfume, blurring the line between supermarket and general store. Several small restaurants are already operating inside the market, giving shoppers a chance to eat before or after they hit the aisles.
Recall history, SNAP and the opening timeline
According to The Indianapolis Star, the location, under the previous American International Market banner, was swept up in a large product recall in late 2025, with federal notices flagging snack foods, canned goods and cosmetics. Hussein told The Star that the new owners cleared out recalled stock and are working to restore SNAP EBT acceptance at the store while they set up a customer loyalty program. In the meantime, Grocery Hub remains open to shoppers, even as contractors and staff keep chipping away at renovations.
Who's behind Grocery Hub
The ownership group includes Shaker Hussein, who also operates Brothers Wholesale at 3619 Commercial Drive and runs Albasha restaurant and market as well as Indiana Import LLC, according to the store team. The owners say they want Grocery Hub to serve both everyday neighborhood shoppers and small businesses that depend on specialty imports, turning the store into a one-stop hub for hard-to-find goods. Staff say more services and programming will roll out once regulatory approvals, including SNAP, are finalized.
Why this matters
For residents and restaurateurs on Indy's northwest side, Grocery Hub brings another full-service option for international ingredients and halal meat, which became harder to access locally after AIM Mart's recall-related disruption last year. With its mix of prepared foods, groceries and household goods, the store aims to be a practical stop for families and small businesses alike. Managers are asking shoppers for a little patience as the final touch-ups wrap up ahead of the official grand opening, promising a fully refreshed market on the other side of the construction dust.
