Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Demolition work at Becker’s Drive In in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019.
The property that formerly housed Becker’s Drive-in at 25th and Union streets may soon be developed.
When Becker’s closed for good in the fall of 2015, it was a cherished Columbus institution. Originally an A&W Root Beer stand, the drive-in had been in business for 67 years.
Although there were a number of inquiries from individuals expressing a desire to buy the restaurant, no deals came to fruition. The building was demolished in the late summer of 2019, and is now a gravel-covered empty lot.
But in late summer, a request from Tulsides Narsinghani for development standards variances regarding the site at 1024 25th St. was submitted to the Columbus Plan Commission. In order to give the developer time to address concerns, a decision was made to table the request for variances from the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals until the Oct. 24 meeting.
A drive-up restaurant window was included in the original proposal. However, city/county planning director Jeff Bergman said that request has now been removed from consideration.
Although the Narsinghani request is on the BZA agenda for Oct. 24, Bergman says it will be continued again until November because the developer is reconsidering the best way to use available space, he said.
It appears the development will be a commercial building capable of housing two to four businesses or offices, Bergman said.
Unless plans are drastically changed, the facility should appear similar to Tony’s Plaza, located two blocks west of the empty lot. There are currently two restaurants in the plaza at 25th and Chestnut streets: Olesya’s Kitchen and Le Fernandez Cafe.
No tenants for the future development at the former Becker’s lot have been identified and there are still seven variances being requested by the developer, according to the October agenda.
