Property owner Talwinder Singh Kahlon is moving forward with a multi‑use project on the southwest corner of East 16th Street and Emerson Avenue on Indianapolis’ east side. The plan includes a new 5,300‑square‑foot bar and grill, a convenience store and a gas station with pumps north of the building.
Neighborhood response
Neighbors are divided. Some, like Alli Tegarden, 38, who works at a nearby flower shop, see the bar and grill as a potential improvement because it would add outdoor seating that the current Shi‑Kay Lounge lacks. Others, such as Bethany Baugh of the Little Flower Neighborhood Association, argue the community does not need another gas station or convenience store. “We don’t need another gas station,” Baugh said. “What’s the point?”
Long‑time resident Patricia Crask, 84, expressed little concern, noting the corner already hosts a Safeway, Family Dollar and a pawn shop. “I don’t think it matters,” she said.
Legal and zoning context
The site is already zoned for commercial use, so the development does not require a rezoning petition or approval from the city’s development board. A petition to vacate an alley behind the existing Shi‑Kay Lounge—currently a public right‑of‑way—has been filed, which would allow the owner to build over that space.
Kahlon’s attorney, Joseph Csikos, confirmed that the plans are proceeding. “He intends to rebuild that area,” Csikos told Mirror Indy. When asked about the rezoning request, Csikos said it was withdrawn after it was determined unnecessary.
Community safety considerations
Chris Staab, president of the Near East Side Community Organization, acknowledged his dislike for new gas stations but admitted residents have limited leverage when land is already properly zoned. “As much as I don’t like to see new gas stations going in, I’ve had a hard time stopping them,” Staab said.
Staab is focusing on securing public‑health safeguards for the site. He has discussed with Kahlon’s lawyer the possibility of installing naloxone boxes and Stop the Bleed kits on the property, a measure aimed at addressing the east side’s higher rate of fatal opioid overdoses.
Next steps for residents
The Little Flower Neighborhood Association will hold a public meeting on September 15, 7‑8 p.m., at Little Flower Catholic Church, 4720 E. 13th St., to discuss the proposed development and gather community input. While a formal public hearing has not yet been scheduled, the meeting will give residents a chance to voice concerns and propose conditions.
Stakeholders are encouraged to attend the meeting, review the alley‑vacancy petition, and consider how the new bar, grill and gas station might affect traffic, safety and the character of the neighborhood.
Background on the site
Talwinder Singh Kahlon purchased most of the land in 2025, acquiring the Shi‑Kay Lounge, a house and several abandoned structures. The existing Shi‑Kay Lounge does not offer outdoor seating or food service, which some residents see as an opportunity for a more family‑friendly venue.
Speedway Liquors, also owned by Kahlon, sits adjacent to the proposed bar and grill, creating a cluster of alcohol‑related businesses that some community members find concerning.
As the project moves forward, the balance between economic development and preserving the east side’s residential character will remain a focal point for local activists, business owners and city officials.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
