Looking for a place in Indianapolis where coffee and a good book belong in the same afternoon? Tarkington House is being created for just that kind of visit. Our family-run coffeehouse, creamery and bookshop is planned for 42nd Street and Boulevard Place in Butler-Tarkington, with an opening anticipated in spring 2027.
A coffeehouse with the warmth of a lived-in house.
The house’s woodwork, fireplace and intimate rooms are shaping its next use. We imagine a stained-wood coffee bar, warm lighting, comfortable chairs and the feeling of an English pub. Some visits will be a quick cup on the way somewhere else. Others will involve finding a chair and losing track of a chapter.
The menu in development includes espresso, AJ’s Americano, house coffee, tea and bakery favorites. There will also be ice cream and sundaes, with affogato bringing the coffeehouse and creamery together in one small bowl. Final menu details will be announced before opening.
A bookstore beneath the eaves.
Upstairs, The Book Loft is planned as a bookstore with the feel of someone’s very good library. Stained-wood shelves, an oval gathering table and a separate reading corner will make room for discovery and conversation. The design includes an overlook into the ice cream parlor below.
Julie’s selections will bring Indiana writers, local authors and personal favorites together with books for small readers. Our Indiana in Ink collection will connect familiar places with the people who wrote about them. The Golden Age of Indiana Literature shelf is one part of that story, alongside later voices and writers working here today.
A visit with something for each person.
The pleasure of bringing coffee, books and ice cream together is that everyone can arrive with a different idea. One person is looking for a novel. Someone else wants a scoop. A conversation can begin with a book on the table or a piece of local art on the wall. That is the sort of easy, everyday gathering place we are working toward.
We are also planning author readings, signings and opportunities to meet local artists. There is no event calendar yet; authors and artists can share their work with us while the plans develop.
Stories close to home.
Our neighborhood history pages explore the Fairview streetcar, the park that preceded Butler’s campus, Indiana literature and the Arts and Crafts character of the house. Those stories inform the shelves, the design and the mural concept. They are part of what makes this corner of Indianapolis the place we want to be.
Keep the opening on your calendar.
Tarkington House is at 4201 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208. We are not open yet, and the exact opening day and hours remain to be announced. Visit our opening guide for the current details and join house updates to hear when the first chapter begins.