In early July, workers rest in the shade of the planned commercial space, as construction on the Vault on Main continues on the residential side.
This is a new four-story mixed use building with 161 apartment units in the heart of Evansville’s downtown. The groundbreaking was a little over one year ago and construction is on schedule.
According to developer CRG Residential, commercial spaces will be leased through a local brokerage firm.
There is nearly 5,000 square feet of retail space available, and there's no word yet on what type of business might be coming.
Megan Danks said since her husband works at Parlor Doughnuts, she tries to come downtown once or twice a week.
“I love coming down here,” she said. “And the more options to sit with my friends outside, especially like outside seating, I think would be really fun.”
Danks said the more the city can do to entice downtown visitors, the better.
Scott Adams is downtown most days for work, as well as on weekends. WNIN caught him amidst the cacophony of Encounter Church’s Vacation Bible School.
“For me, it would be a really good addition to have things that you don’t have to pay to enjoy or pay to participate in. It’d just really good to have some open-to-all-community access assets.”
Adams said those “community access assets” could include spaces where not-for-profits could meet and provide services for kids or recent immigrants.
“The downtown is really a great focal point for a lot of things that are happening in Evansville,” Adams said. “I think it would be really great to have some of those assets available more broadly in the downtown area, because it’s such an attractive, attractional area.”
Jenny Ross and her friend Kami Wilson would both like to see something with a priority on health — like a “clean eating” restaurant.
“Like clean ingredients, organic, gluten free options. Everything here in Evansville is fried, burgers — with gluten,” Wilson said. “People are gluten free, or vegans. Something like that would help, especially with people who have gut issues,” Ross put in. “We’re so crunchy,” she added with a laugh.
They think downtown would be a great location for that clean eating restaurant or a hot yoga studio.
“We are just really into moving our bodies and we love hot yoga and I think we need more of it,” Wilson said. “And downtown would be a great location.”
Adam Trinkel, the executive director of Downtown Evansville, is excited for the Vault on Main to bring more residents and consumers to the city.
“We’re just excited — I mean there’s gonna be 161 apartments so we know that more residents leads to more activity downtown, more people on the streets, more consumers for the businesses. So (I'm) very excited to see this project cross the finish line.”
Trinkel’s organization introduced Evansville's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) designed to boost economic growth, which opened on July 4th.
“We’d love to see anything that would drive consumer activity. So, restaurants, dining, shopping experience. We’re excited to really welcome anything.”
The building is expected to accept tenants Summer of 2026.
WNIN's Tim Jagielo edited and produced the audio
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