Downtown Fort Wayne launches outdoor alley seating pilot to support Broadway Art District’s First Fridays!

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Downtown Fort Wayne is excited to announce a new outdoor seating pilot project along the Broadway corridor. This initiative is designed to support the Broadway Art District’s First Fridays! events and encourage continued vibrancy and growth in the area.

The pilot project is located on the west side of Broadway, in the alley between 1111 Broadway, home to Fancy & Staple, and 1115 Broadway, where Gallery 02 is located. The space features a mural commissioned by Fancy & Staple and painted by local artist Burger Babie. A second mural, created by renowned street art duo FAILE and facilitated by Josef Zimmerman, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, was recently added to 1115 Broadway.

Downtown Fort Wayne’s Clean & Safe team has transformed the alley with metal furniture, planter boxes, and fresh flowers. The space will be maintained in partnership with local businesses.

“We are concentrating on creating safe, inviting, street-level experiences that help support local business efforts,” said Alexandra Hall, Director of Art This Way, a program of Downtown Fort Wayne. “While shopping from the participating vendors, an outdoor dining zone like this provides First Fridays! attendees with a space to linger, enjoy dinner from a food truck, or have a cocktail. This is a great use of this art-filled alleyway.”

Multiple businesses within Downtown and along its gateway entrances are open for First Fridays! The public is encouraged to visit each first Friday, May through December 2025, and check out the Downtown retail shops, restaurants, and galleries participating in the event.

This pilot project has been approved by local businesses and property owners, and the City of Fort Wayne granted a temporary alley closure permit. The effort aligns with the ongoing reauthorization of Downtown Fort Wayne’s footprint, with the Broadway corridor identified as part of the potential expansion zone.