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The developer behind the planned overhaul of Circle Centre is asking a Marion County Court to shutter a coworking space that has had a location in the downtown mall property for nearly five years.
Hendricks Commercial Properties on Feb. 5 filed a lawsuit against Columbus, Ohio-based COhatch, claiming the firm has failed to pay nearly $180,000 in rent. The coworking company is the fourth tenant since 2024 to face eviction due to allegations of unpaid rent.
In addition to the company, four individuals — Chris Watkins, Tammy Watkins, John Watkins, and Dinah Chong Watkins — were named in the suit, with Hendricks alleging they were considered legal guarantors of the company’s lease and failed to meet payment requirements.
The property owner did not indicate how long COhatch has gone without paying its rent.
A representative Hendricks, which filed the suit through holding company Spree LLC, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
John Watkins, manager of COhatch Indy LLC, told IBJ in an email on Thursday that the dispute stems from difficulties created by the impending redevelopment.
“With Circle Centre Mall closing its doors in late 2025, we’ve been in a lease dispute tied to the mall’s teardown and the difficulty in using the space,” he said. “We expect to reach a final agreement today, February 12, that will lead to a quick resolution. As a COhatch licensee, we remain committed to providing welcoming spaces for our members in the communities we serve.”
Watkins did not expand on the agreement or what that might include.
Hendricks is asking Marion Superior Court 1 to terminate the company’s lease, as well as award accrued damages, attorney fees, pre- and post-judgement interest and any other relief the court determines to be appropriate.
Beloit, Wisconsin-based Hendricks plans to redevelop the former mall into a $600 million, two-block district called Traction Yards over the next several years. The first phase of that project is expected to focus on the southern block bounded by Maryland, Meridian, Georgia and Illinois streets.
The COhatch space is in the northern block of Circle Centre, next to Ruth’s Chris Steak House along Illinois Street. Prior to the closure of the property at the end of 2025, the 9,609-square-foot space also had an interior mall entrance.
COhatch confirmed its plans for a Circle Centre location in June 2020, but did not open until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It took over a space previously occupied by Granite City Food & Brewery.
The company, which is still open to members at its Circle Centre location, has four other locations in Marion and Hamilton counties: Zionsville, Carmel, Noblesville and Broad Ripple. In total, it has 36 locations across six states, including 21 in its home state of Ohio.
Last year, Hendricks filed a lawsuit against Punch Bowl Social, alleging the restaurant company has failed to pay more than $650,000 in rent since June 2025.
On Wednesday, the court dismissed another eviction lawsuit the company had filed against JBHM Inc., following an out-of-court settlement — the terms of which were not publicly disclosed. A similar settlement was reached for the eviction of Sugar Factory in 2024.
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