Roundup: Downtown dessert cafe, lots of new pizzerias

The metro Indy market continues to pile toppings on its already-solid bed of pizza places. Plus, in today's retail roundup, new offerings in old spaces:

• Frona Mae Dessert Cafe is set to open at 38 E. Washington St. in the space formerly occupied by The Libertine Liquor Bar, before the latter moved into the same building with Pizzology at 608 Massachusetts Ave.

The cafe will feature house-made desserts, artisan tea and coffee, wine pairings and lunch specials.

• Kuma's Corner will be serving lunch Monday following a soft opening over the weekend.

Property Lines reported in December that the Chicago-based heavy-metal-themed burger joint would be arriving in Fountain Square. The restaurant took nearly 7,000 square feet at 1127 Prospect St., next to Radio Radio.

Far from a sports bar, Kuma’s plays metal music to complement its Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Metallica burgers, among others. Patrons can wash it all down with a wide selection of craft beer.

Kuma’s launched in 2005 and has two locations in Chicago. The Fountain Square location will be its first outside the Windy City.

Now for the new pizza offerings:

• Tammy’s International Pizza is coming to 325 W. Washington St. across from the Government Center South building.

A sign in the window says the pizzeria offers breakfast pizza, pizza by the slice, an all-you-can-eat buffet and take-n-bake pies, in addition to nachos and tacos.

• Diavola pizzeria is set to open in late fall at 1134 E. 54th St. in the space formerly occupied by the Twist bar. Twist and adjacent Zest! Exciting Food Creations in SoBro served their last customers April 5.

Diavola comes from veteran Broad Ripple restaurateur Gino Pizzi, who operates Ambrosia at 5903 N. College Ave.

“It’s my first venture into pizza,” Pizzi said, “but I grew up in Italy, so I have some ideas.”

• Jet’s Pizza has filed plans to open in Nora at 1490 E. 86th St., in the strip center anchored by a Marsh supermarket, in space formerly occupied by an Indiana National Guard recruiting office.  

Jet’s has three existing locations in Indianapolis, as well as one each in Carmel, Fishers and Greenwood.

• Aurelio’s Pizza finally has filed plans to open an Indianapolis-area eatery at the busy Fishers Marketplace at State Road 37 and 131st Street.

North of 96th first reported in July 2014 that the Chicagoland favorite would be extending its reach into central Indiana, with plans for a restaurant in Fishers.

Founded in 1959 in the suburban community of Homewood, Aurelio’s has 40 franchise locations in six states and three family-owned pizzerias near Chicago.

In Greenwood:

• Zaxby’s has started construction on its restaurant at 1274 N. Emerson Ave. that’s expected to open late this year. It will be the third metro-area location for the Georgia-based fast-casual chain that offers chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches and salads. The other two are in Fishers and on Indy's northwest side near 86th Street and Michigan Road.

• uPaint Pottery Studio expects to open in September, in 3,000 square feet at Village Commons II at West Smith Valley Road and State Road 135. uPaint also has a location at 1820 E. Main St. in Plainfield.

One closing to report:

• The Fifth Third Bank branch at 1036 Broad Ripple Ave. will close Nov. 4 and consolidate services with the Keystone Avenue location at 2411 E. 71st St.