INDIANAPOLIS -- Controversy is swirling around a popular downtown fast-food restaurant and its closing during the busiest portion of Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration.
Thousands of people pour into downtown Indianapolis during the weekend of Summer Celebration, 6News' Sarah Cornell reported.
Many restaurants and bars stay open afterhours to accommodate the late-night crowd, but Steak 'n Shake on Maryland Street did the opposite this year, and some are suspicious about why.
Le'Deana Brown, who had her camera rolling on Saturday night during Summer Celebration, documented that the restaurant was closed on what is one of the biggest money-making weekends downtown.
"You don't just see a 24-hour restaurant close. I just wanted to raise the question of why would they do something like that," Brown said.
The restaurant's sign indicated routine maintenance as the reason for closing, but Brown noticed that some law enforcement officers were being served.
"When we got there, we saw that they were in and people were in there eating, but we just couldn't get anything to eat," Brown said.
Tanya Bell, CEO and president of Black Expo, saw the video that Brown posted on YouTube. She said she had heard that the same Steak 'n Shake was closed for routine maintenance on the same weekend last year.
When asked if she thought the closing was race-related, Bell said, "I don't want to jump the gun, and I don't want to prematurely speak. I can say that these are the busiest nights of the year during Summer Celebration," Bell said. "I am a little taken aback that they were closed during some of the prime nights where patrons are there, ready to eat."
6News tried to contact Steak 'n Shake's communications director and CEO several times Wednesday night, but calls were not returned. The person who answered the phone Thursday at the Maryland Street restaurant said they have no comment.
Bell said she plans to schedule a meeting with restaurant officials on Thursday.
"I'm just glad people are paying attention and people are asking of themselves, 'What's wrong? Is it something that we can correct, or is it too late?'" Brown said.
Bell said she couldn't recall if there had been any reported incidents at Steak 'n Shake in years past during Summer Celebration that might have prompted the restaurant to close.
Bell said Indiana Black Expo generates $38 million for the city.
Thousands of people pour into downtown Indianapolis during the weekend of Summer Celebration, 6News' Sarah Cornell reported.
Many restaurants and bars stay open afterhours to accommodate the late-night crowd, but Steak 'n Shake on Maryland Street did the opposite this year, and some are suspicious about why.
Le'Deana Brown, who had her camera rolling on Saturday night during Summer Celebration, documented that the restaurant was closed on what is one of the biggest money-making weekends downtown.
"You don't just see a 24-hour restaurant close. I just wanted to raise the question of why would they do something like that," Brown said.
The restaurant's sign indicated routine maintenance as the reason for closing, but Brown noticed that some law enforcement officers were being served.
"When we got there, we saw that they were in and people were in there eating, but we just couldn't get anything to eat," Brown said.
Tanya Bell, CEO and president of Black Expo, saw the video that Brown posted on YouTube. She said she had heard that the same Steak 'n Shake was closed for routine maintenance on the same weekend last year.
When asked if she thought the closing was race-related, Bell said, "I don't want to jump the gun, and I don't want to prematurely speak. I can say that these are the busiest nights of the year during Summer Celebration," Bell said. "I am a little taken aback that they were closed during some of the prime nights where patrons are there, ready to eat."
6News tried to contact Steak 'n Shake's communications director and CEO several times Wednesday night, but calls were not returned. The person who answered the phone Thursday at the Maryland Street restaurant said they have no comment.
Bell said she plans to schedule a meeting with restaurant officials on Thursday.
"I'm just glad people are paying attention and people are asking of themselves, 'What's wrong? Is it something that we can correct, or is it too late?'" Brown said.
Bell said she couldn't recall if there had been any reported incidents at Steak 'n Shake in years past during Summer Celebration that might have prompted the restaurant to close.
Bell said Indiana Black Expo generates $38 million for the city.
