13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |City Market vendor Constantino's served with eviction notice

City Market vendor Constantino's served with eviction notice

City Market served Constantino's with an eviction notice three months ago. The director says Constantino's is 13 months behind and owes $30,000 in back rent. Constantino's says there's more to the situation but declined to elaborate.

Another hearing will take place in two weeks. City Market has also sued a florist.

Given the economy, business is down significantly, with a vacancy rate of more than 50 percent.

Constantino's was family-owned business at market since 1911. It left in the late 1970s and returned in November 2007 following the renovation. It sells produce, cheeses, pastries and gourmet or specialty items

The market announced in August it was no longer signing new leases and awaiting a decision from the mayor's office on the future of the market. Rent is not enough to cover costs and the city recently decided to stop covering utility costs. Vendors have been in limbo concerned about what's next.

The board provided the mayor's office with a report on recommendations on how to make it self-sustainable. While the mayor's office has not released the report, officials have said it's back to the drawing board.