One neighborhood staple shuts its doors and another local name is already sliding into the vacant spot. Illumine Coffee is set to take over the former Tea's Me Café space on Indianapolis' near-north side, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. The move swaps a long-standing tea hub for a growing coffee roaster along 22nd Street's tight-knit small-business corridor.
The locally owned roaster plans to occupy the storefront Tea's Me left behind. The original 22nd Street Tea's Me location officially closed Dec. 30, 2025, as reported by Mirror Indy. The Indianapolis Business Journal noted the handoff but did not pin down a firm opening date for Illumine's new shop.
Where Illumine Already Operates
Illumine started out as a roastery and has since built a small but visible footprint. The company currently runs its roastery and café in Nora and also operates a downtown counter, according to Illumine Coffee. The Nora spot is the operational heart of the brand, while the downtown counter gives it a presence near Monument Circle.
Local guides have taken note of that downtown shop, too. Indianapolis Coffee Guide highlights Illumine's menu and central location, framing it as a go-to stop for office workers and visitors looking for a caffeine fix close to the city's core.
Neighborhood Shift
For regulars, Tea's Me was never just a place to grab a drink. It doubled as a community hub, hosting workforce and youth programming and serving as a kind of unofficial neighborhood living room. As the café prepared to leave 22nd Street and concentrate on campus-based operations, owner Tamika Catchings reflected that "22nd Street will always hold a special place in my heart," a sentiment detailed by Mirror Indy.
Illumine's arrival fits into a broader trend of local roasters expanding into street-front spaces, trading industrial roastery vibes for walkable neighborhood corners. On 22nd Street, that could mean a new kind of morning foot traffic as coffee crowds replace tea loyalists, even as the block hangs on to its locally driven feel.
The Indianapolis Business Journal has not reported an opening date yet, and Illumine has not posted a timeline on its own site. For now, curious neighbors will have to keep an eye on both the IBJ coverage and Illumine's website to find out when the lights turn on in the new 22nd Street shop.
