Fuel Social and Praxis Detailing finish new Facade

Friday, September 9, 2026

AUBURN, Ind. – Renovations to the façade of the Fuel Social Club and Praxis Detailing not only transformed the southern gateway to the city, it complimented the city’s museum district.

No detail was too small when owner Frank Souder decided to renovate the exterior of his building at 220 W. Ensley Ave. The renovations included new brick work, doors, two garage doors, lighting and a parapet fitting of Auburn’s history.

Souder took advantage of Auburn Main Street’s Façade Grant program, which is a partnership between the City of Auburn, Auburn Redevelopment Commission and Auburn Main Street.

Auburn Main Street matched $45,000 of the over $215,000 investment to the building. Souder was the first local business owner to take advantage of the program’s larger grant dollars for larger projects.

The renovation to the façade is just the first step in what Souder hopes will become a transformation of the southern museum campus area. He said he is looking at future renovations including resealing the parking lot and other key projects to the building.

The façade grant program provides funding to assist local business owners with repairs and renovations of the exterior of those buildings 50 years and older located with the city’s Economic Revitalization Area.

Business owners are eligible for $15,000 in matching grant monies per application, unless the project meets qualifying amounts for larger projects. Those larger amounts are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the project.

Grant applications and other information regarding the grant process are available on the City’s website at https://ci.auburn.in.us/161/Building-Planning-Development or at https://www.auburnmainstreet.org/facade-grant-program. Interested business owners can also contact Façade Review and Design Committee Chair, Logan Shank 260.515.3967 or [email protected].