Brixx pizza set to reopen in Fishers with new owners

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza in Fishers, which closed abruptly in November, is set to reopen in February with new owners in the same location at The Depot at Nickel Plate.

The restaurant—part of a North Carolina-based chain that offers wood-fired pizzas, salads, pastas, sandwiches and craft beer—signed on as the anchor tenant of the $42 million apartment and retail center in 2014 and opened in 2015.

The Fishers location—opened by franchisees Jim and Tom Lessaris and Tom Scaggs—was the only one in the state and the first Midwest outlet for the chain, which was founded in 1998. Brixx has about 30 locations across the country, but a majority are in North Carolina.

But the Fishers location closed suddenly in late November.

Now, franchisees Marc and Jenni Hanmer—who operate two Brixx Pizza locations in the Nashville, Tennessee, area—said they will reopen the 3,824-square-foot Fishers restaurant, which seats 120 inside and 60 on an outdoor patio.

“We are big believers in the Brixx brand, and we’ve built Brixx into a destination for great food and hospitality in the Nashville area,” Jenni Hanmer said Friday in a written statement.

“As we’ve gotten to know Fishers, we’ve been excited to hear from people who loved Brixx and were heartbroken by its temporary closure,” she said. “We can’t wait to bring Brixx back for them. We’ll be personally involved in the management of the location and are looking forward to being active corporate citizens.”

Immediately after the restaurant closed in November, Neil Newcomb, president of Brixx Franchise System, told IBJ the chain was interested in reopening the Fishers location with a new franchisee.

"Fishers is a great community, and we continue to see tremendous potential for Brixx Pizza here," Newcomb said then. "We’re confident that a new ownership group can be very successful in Fishers and are currently talking with potential buyers for Brixx at The Depot at Nickel Plate.”

Last week, Newcomb said in a statement that the Hanmers have been “very successful” franchise owners. “We’re confident Fishers will thrive under their commitment to offering amazing food and service inside the restaurant and out in the community,” he said.

The restaurant offers traditional crusts as well as gluten-free doughs. It also has vegetarian and vegan options and 24 craft beers on tap, 14 wines by the glass and cocktails.

The Depot, managed by Flaherty & Collins, includes 242 high-end apartments, 17,000 square feet of retail space and a 430-space parking garage. It was the first major redevelopment project in downtown Fishers, opening in June 2015.

Other tenants include Flamme Burger, Dottie Couture Boutique and Salon 7. Yogurtz, a frozen yogurt shop that opened in the building in 2015, also closed earlier this year. Its space along 116th Street was filled by Shine Home, a home goods and design shop.