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Free food box group makes statement against gentrification

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — This story starts, oddly enough, with a mural of two rabbits having sex.

The owners of the up-and-coming restaurant Beholder had it painted on their building in October and the landlord quickly painted over. That building is at 1844 E. 10th St. That’s west of North Rural Street. 

That painting and repainting prompted Beholder’s owner to post a now-removed, profanity-laced complaint on social media. 

The last line — “you’re welcome for the rising property values” — stood out to Sierra Nuckols. She is the founder of Community Food Box Project, a group that places small pantries across Indiana with free canned foods and other items for people in need. 

“We wanted people who are customers of the restaurant as well as the owners of the restaurant to think about their attitude and why they decided to say the things they said,” Nuckols said. 

She deliberately decided to place her project’s 50th box in front of Beholder’s, which is located near 10th and Tecumseh St. on the near east side. The box displays written messages about the negative effects of gentrification. 

Nuckols and the box’s sponsors — Irvington Vinyl & Books — are concerned that Beholder and similar businesses could drive up housing prices and drive people out of their own neighborhood. 

The owners of the restaurant Milktooth opened Beholder last June. It is neighbored to the west by a dollar store and to the east by blighted homes. 

“We also wanted to show the juxtaposition of a restaurant that serves food that ranges up to $100 versus a food box that has to provide free food to people in the neighborhood that don’t have any food at all,” Nuckols said. 

Some of the pricier items listed on the restaurant’s menu online include a $35 steak and a $39 lamb shank. Roasted carrots are $13. 

The owners of the restaurant did not respond to a request for comment. 

James Hawkins, a local homeless man, took advantage of the box Wednesday by grabbing a few energy bars. 

“It might not be hot, but it gets you something to eat,” Hawkins said.