Overview
The industrial building at 205 E. Palmer St has had a long-standing history for serving the Midwest from our quiet corner of the historic old southside in the Bates-Hendricks District. Originally two separate addresses of 201 E. Palmer and 205 E. Palmer. Back then the 201 side was built by Red Dot Foods. They were the largest provider of potato chips in the Midwest. In the early 1960s Fred Frito bought Red Dot and by the mid-1960s launched Frito Lay. At this point the 2 buildings were joined by a loading dock and the complex was complete.
Frito Lay manufactured here until 1980 when they moved to their new plant and our building sat empty and still for 4 years. In 1980 Terry and Marilyn Simpson had purchased American Tent and Awning Co. Inc. Just one mile away. This historic business had been in operation since 1873 located on East Street with their front doors looking east down Stevens Street. In 1984 Eli Lilly & Co. wanted to purchase the home of this 100+ year old company. During the process Lilly helped American Tent move in to our new and final home at 205 E. Palmer St. where we continued to serve the great state of Indiana all the way up to 2021. In the beginning Terry and Marilyn were approached by the Herron School of Art. They needed donated walls for their graffiti arts program to do their final projects. Marilyn was a graduate of Herron, Terry and Marilyn agreed to donate a 10x10 section of our outer walls to each student.
This was the beginning of the free to the public walls that are ever changing today. We are coming up on 50 years art in the southside of Indianapolis. Unfortunately, after 148 years we were forced to close due to the pandemic. Leaving this building open for the next adventure in its historic journey.
