Historic Downtown Indianapolis bar The Elbow Room to close for good

After more than eight decades of serving thirsty patrons, a historic Downtown Indianapolis bar with Prohibition-era roots is little more than a week away from closing its doors.

Officials from The Elbow Room Pub & Deli, a fixture at 605 N. Pennsylvania St., confirmed that the business would be closing before the end of the month.

Fox59 reports that employees were told during a Wednesday staff meeting that their final day in business would be May 27, the day of the IPL 500 Festival Parade.

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June 26 would have marked The Elbow Room's 84th anniversary, according to IndyStar archives.

Rick Lux, owner of Lux Restaurants, said the property will be will be available for lease or sale after the closing, Fox59 reports. Lux has owned the restaurant since 2002.

“It has been a great location for Lux Restaurants, but it was time to upgrade the restaurant or sell and we have ultimately decided it was time to reimagine the future of this location as the cultural landscape of downtown Indianapolis continues to evolve,” Lux said in a statement to Fox59.

The company plans to place all employees at Lux’s other five other restaurants including Indianapolis’ Broad Ripple Tavern, Meridian, Blind Owl and Binkley’s, and Nickel Plate located in Fishers.

The historic building that sits at the intersection of Pennsylvania Street and Fort Wayne Avenue has been a bar since 1933, shortly after the repeal of Prohibition. Before that, it housed Schoen Bros. Cleaners.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.