Sahm’s Hospitality Group Gears Up for New Catering Space

Many locals are familiar with the Sahm family restaurant empire. However, some may not know that a large part of their business comes from catering. They are a family operation; Ed Sahm is the founder and CEO, and his children, including Eddie, vice president and director of operations, Adrienne, head of beverage operations, and their sister, Molly, all have a part. Eddie says their success can be attributed to their activity in their restaurants. They work and live at each establishment.

Their catering menu started with pasta, steak and sides, but has evolved to add barbecue (also available at Half Liter) or fried chicken (also available at Big Lug). Their most popular catering service includes barbecue or fried chicken, salad, veggies, fresh-baked bread, and homemade desserts like their famous coffee cake.

Sahm’s catering can accommodate five to 5,000 people. If you’re feeling overwhelmed for the week, the family meals from Half Liter, which feed four to 10 people, are perfect to stock your fridge. The mac and cheese, and Brussels sprouts, are also available.

For birthdays, reunions, weddings, school functions, large charity events like their famous golf outings, or fundraisers, Sahm’s Catering can accommodate you. You’ll also see them around the city at events like Rock the Ruins or IU Health’s Rev. They are a dependable spot for fresh, well-made food.

Their new space is located at 2502 East 52nd Street in Indy. The previous MVP catering kitchen has undergone a big renovation. The interiors are now vibrantly sparkling and ready for work. The space, for now, will serve as a catering kitchen and will not be open to the public. However, Ed and Eddie hope to revitalize this building and the grounds surrounding it, for those on the Nickel Plate Trail heading into South Broad Ripple.

The kitchen is also just four minutes from the Monon Trail, and the beautification will be welcome to passing traffic. The Sahms all live within 10 minutes of the catering kitchen and Eddie even rides his bike there. It is easily accessible to both the northside and downtown parts of the city. Ed and his partner in crime, a rescue pup named Arnie, are excited to make this space home.

The building will also be getting new Sahm’s signage.

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The family called Indianapolis home far before the restaurants began to populate. Ed reminisces about his grandmother, Grace Coffing, who he says “was an amazing cook.” He has fond memories of her cooking and credits his love of food to her. Ed grew up right in the heart of midtown at 44th and Delaware. His first job was at what he describes as a “legendary neighborhood establishment”called Knobby’s, which closed in 2001. The space at 53rd and Keystone was converted to a BP gas station.

Ed decided to pursue hospitality, focusing on restaurant management – a defining point in the history of the Sahm’s hospitality brand. He helped Harry’s Chocolate Shop establish their pub. In 1986 the first of the Sahm’s restaurants opened at 116th and Allisonville, and so began their empire of bakeries, breweries, catering businesses and several diverse eateries throughout central Indiana. The catering company started in 1987 along with the addition of Eddie, Ed’s oldest child.

Eddie was born into the industry, and restaurants were home to him. He has fond childhood memories of fresh-baked bread and the warm, rich, nutty smell of roasting pecans. Eddie was raised around mentors like Chris Eley (owner of Smoking Goose) and Mike Cunningham (founder of Cunningham Restaurant Group). He may have been born into the industry, but his commitment to going above and beyond underscores that this is what he was meant to do.

In 1989 the famous Sahm coffee cake was developed, just in time to welcome the eldest daughter, Adrienne, in 1990. Soon after, Molly joined the family in 1992.

The Sahm empire moved downtown in 2019, as the team opened up in the One America building until 2020, when doubling rents motivated them to seek other options. They moved the catering business to the Cathedral athletic campus. Catering had always been a big part of the Sahm’s business, and a dependable aspect of their success. Eddie says they use “real, fresh food; nothing is ever heated from frozen, or reheated multiple times for service.”

“Food is a conduit for connecting people and communities,” he adds. “It’s as simple as that.”

The Sahms team has perfected a smooth service, and also prides itself on paying special attention to allergies and accommodating dietary needs. “No one’s leaving hungry,” Ed adds.

“It’s a great feeling to bring the business back home to midtown,” he adds, referring to just miles from where he grew up.

“Indy is home, and we hope to keep building here and pouring back into the community that built us,” Eddie says.