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Friends, Food, Fun and Being Retired in Downtown Indy

Category Living Downtown

Forbes recently ranked Indianapolis as one of the top 25 cities to retire in, drawing from various factors including cost of living, arts and culture draws, climate and natural hazards. To weigh in on the conversation, hear from American Structurepoint retiree and proud Downtown resident Greg Henneke on what makes Indianapolis a great city to live, work, play (and retire) in.


My name is Greg Henneke, and I’m proud to call Downtown Indianapolis my home. My wife, Martha O’Connor and I are recently retired and have been living on the south end of the burgeoning Mass Ave neighborhood for over 10 years. During that time, we are blessed to have acquired a connected community of close friends in and around Downtown. These good friends share the amazing and multifaceted delights that are available in Downtown Indy every day, and we find that Downtown continues to present a safe and clean atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.

First, let us talk about the food scene. What an incredible variety of great choices! From the many upscale steak places to ethnic cuisine including Italian, Asian, Indian, and Latin food, Downtown is home to great fine dining. There are also many casual restaurants and bistros, as well as good old neighborhood hideaways. There is truly something for every taste!

We appreciate the many cultural offerings in and around Downtown. Let us start with music. One can go big with concerts at TCU Amphitheater, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Old National Centre and the nationally recognized Indiana Symphony Orchestra at Hilbert Circle Theatre. Our group also frequents some of the smaller gems like The Cabaret, The Rathskeller and Chatterbox Jazz Club. In fact, many of the great restaurants Downtown complement dinner with live jazz performances.

If theatre is your thing, the Indiana Repertory Theatre puts on world-class productions which wow us during every viewing. Additionally, The Phoenix Theatre welcomes productions from multiple talented theater companies, and IndyFringe, The Athenaeum Basile Theatre, and The District Theatre also provide extremely thought provoking and avant-garde entertainment.

Downtown is very accessible and a fantastic place to enjoy physical activities like walking, running and biking for fitness and pleasure. Up and over the Indiana War Memorial to the library and back is a frequent early morning fitness routine to start off my day. There are also many gyms, workout facilities and spas to relieve stress and rejuvenate the mind and body. Quiet walks through leafy neighborhoods like Lockerbie Square, Chatham Arch and the Old Northside add to our urban lifestyle.

One of the most compelling aspects of Downtown living is the convenient access to the entire Indianapolis community. Commutes by car usually take less than 20 minutes to anywhere in the city, making a stroll at Eagle Creek or a visit with friends easily attainable. Downtown adjacent areas including Fountain Square and Garfield Park are both walkable and bikeable from our residency. A ride on the Redline bus rapid transit is a great way to get over to super fun Sobro and Broad Ripple Village entertainment areas. Our retired status allows us to enjoy frequent travel out of Indy. All it takes is 20 minutes to Indianapolis’ International Airport, named best in North America, and we are off!

Our group understands that giving back to the community is important so we are involved in organizations that contribute to Downtown’s success. Martha serves on The Phoenix Theatre board and the Saint Mary parish council, and I serve on The Athenaeum Foundation and City Market boards. Our friends do their part to build our city as well.

Our friend group recommends that anyone (retired or not) with a sense of adventure who enjoys variety and the spice of life to come to Downtown and embrace the vibrancy!


To stay up to date on the latest and greatest coming out of Downtown, visit our news page here.