Speedway City Garage is officially in gear at Main Street and 16th in the Town of Speedway, rolling out a coffee-to-cocktails setup just steps from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The new spot brings together Founders Grounds Coffee Company and Lapel-based Pax Verum Brewing inside roughly 4,000 square feet, with a walk-up window for race fans, a full bar and an expanded breakfast menu built around returning favorites. Owners say they want one address that can catch morning commuters, race-week throngs and evening guests without anyone having to change venues.
The team took over the former Rosner's Pharmacy and used the larger footprint to grow Founders Grounds beyond its original, smaller storefront a few blocks south, as reported by Axios Indianapolis. The ownership group had earlier outlined the partnership to Indianapolis Business Journal, which labeled the joint venture a "coffee-to-cocktails destination."
According to Pax Verum Brewing, the Speedway taproom will feature a Speedway City IPA and a Speedway City Lager as part of what the brewery calls a "coffee & beer experience." The original Lapel taproom is staying put, while the new Main Street outpost concentrates on visitors flowing in and out of Speedway.
"They have a love for the speedway and they have a love for the track," Founders Grounds owner Jeff Matthews said of the group behind the venture, adding that more staff have been hired to handle the larger space. Matthews also told WTHR, "we are well known for our biscuits and gravy, so that's offered every day now."
Main Street and the Wilshaw Site
The opening lands while town officials are still trying to sort out the long-stalled Wilshaw Hotel parcel that sits at the gateway to Main Street. In a March press release, the Town of Speedway said it is moving ahead with an appraisal and negotiations with the current owner and has set June as a decision point. Town Manager Grant Kleinhenz said the goal is to make sure "residents have every right to expect more from a site this important," according to the town's announcement from the Town of Speedway.
Hours and Race-Day Plans
The Speedway City Garage crew plans to open daily at 7 a.m., with an extra-early start planned for race day. For the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, the shop expects to open as early as 4 a.m. to catch the rush of fans heading toward the track. The walk-up window and expanded staff lineup are designed to move people through quickly on big event mornings, according to WTHR. Owners say the combination of early coffee service and beer on tap lets Speedway City Garage serve several different crowds over the course of a single day.
Business owners and residents who spoke with local outlets say they hope the new hangout keeps more people lingering on Main Street instead of driving straight to the gates. Axios Indianapolis reported that the owners want to "honor the racing heritage" while offering a neighborhood gathering spot on race weekends and during quieter stretches. For Speedway, the project is both a practical upgrade for early-morning coffee and food and a sign that Main Street might finally be edging back to life.
