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Multiple retailers, restaurants and other businesses recently opened, closed or began planning new locations in the north suburbs of Indianapolis. Here’s a rundown:
Wally’s
A travel center business based in suburban St. Louis plans to break ground Aug. 16 on a massive $30 million store and gas station in Whitestown.
Wally’s, which bills itself as “Home of the Great American Road Trip,” will construct a bigger-than-originally-planned travel center aimed at commuters and travelers off Albert White Drive near Interstate 65.
Plans call for Wally’s to feature a 54,000-square-foot retail center with a food court, gift shop, convenience store, restrooms, 80 gas pumps, and 15 to 20 electric vehicle charging stations. Wally’s will have both Tesla superchargers and non-Tesla chargers.
The 24-hour store will employ about 150 to 200 workers. The Fenton, Missouri-based company originally looked to break ground after last September on a 45,000-square-foot travel center with a late 2024 opening date before changing plans.
The Whitestown site will be home to Wally’s third and largest travel center.
The company previously opened a 30,000-square-foot travel center in 2020 off Interstate 55 in Pontiac, Illinois, and a 36,000-square-foot location in 2022 off Interstate 44 in Fenton, Missouri. The Pontiac and Fenton locations both have about 72 gas pumps.
CEO Michael Rubenstein told IBJ last year that Wally’s is designed as a car stop for commuters and travelers, rather than a place dedicated to the needs of semi drivers, and it offers a nostalgic roadside experience with modern amenities.
The company’s goal is to open eight to 10 Wally’s locations in the next four years as it continues to focus on the Midwest.
Inside a Wally’s store, customers will find a wide-open food court with a 42-foot vaulted ceiling where they can choose from barbecue sandwiches, brisket, popcorn, beef jerky, pizza, bakery items, drinks and more.
Wally’s follows in the footsteps of Texas-based Buc-ee’s, which has 50 convenience store/gas station combos throughout the southern and southwestern United States.
Buc-ee’s is building its closest store to Indianapolis in Huber Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton. The 74,000-square-foot store along Interstate 70 is expected to open by late 2025.
Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has opened in Carmel at 1352 S. Rangeline Road. The 2,547-square-foot fast-casual eatery offers classic Mediterranean dishes such as gyros, souvlaki plates, hummus and tzatziki.
Founded in 2011 in Las Vegas, Great Greek Mediterranean Grill began franchising in 2016 and now has more than 50 locations throughout the United States. The Carmel restaurant is the second Great Greek Mediterranean Grill to open in Indiana, following a location in Crown Point.
Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream
Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream plans to open a 3,900-square-foot restaurant next year in downtown Westfield.
The Westfield Advisory Plan Commission in June approved a development plan for Bub’s, which will operate at 229 Mill St., across from Grand Junction Plaza.
Bub’s will also be adjacent to H Restaurant, a 9,500-square-foot high-end steakhouse planned by local restaurateur Henri Najem at the southwest corner of Jersey and Mill streets.
It will also be near Sun King Brewing Co., which in March announced plans to open an 8,700-square-foot taproom and food hall at the Union Square at Grand Junction development, which is under construction.
Bub’s, founded in 2003 in Carmel by Matt and Rachel Frey, previously operated a restaurant in Westfield near U.S. 31 and Wheeler Road. There are currently Bub’s restaurants in Bloomington, Carmel and Zionsville.
Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard
Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard, operated by Tobi Mares, opened May 29 at 24 N. Rangeline Road in Carmel.
The restaurant offers breakfast, brunch and lunch items, along with a cocktail menu.
Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and closed Mondays.
Meijer Grocery
Midwestern retail giant Meijer Inc. opened a 90,000-square-foot grocery store July 11 on the west side of Noblesville.
The medium-format Meijer Grocery and a gas station are on 17 acres in the Promenade at Noblesville development at 5956 Promenade Shops Blvd. near the northeast corner of State Road 32 and Little Chicago Road.
While traditional Meijer supercenters average 150,000 to 250,000 square feet, the chain’s new line of grocery stores are between 75,000 and 90,000 square feet. Meijer also opened grocery stores last year in Lake Orion, Michigan, and Macomb Township, Michigan.
Meijer also plans to build a 75,000-square-foot Meijer Grocery store on the east side of Fishers on the north side of the roundabout at Cyntheanne Road and Southeastern Parkway.
Market District
Pittsburgh-based grocery chain Giant Eagle expanded its Indianapolis-area presence by opening a Market District grocery store July 25 at 755 E. Tournament Trail in Westfield.
The 49,600-square-foot store is in Westfield’s Wheeler Landing development district, just north of State Road 32 and west of U.S. 31.
The new Market District store offers a grab-and-go prepared food section, bakery, deli counter with meats, cheeses and charcuterie, and event catering. The store, which was built on six acres, has 268 parking spaces, including 10 bike parking spots.
B.J.’s Wholesale Club
BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open its second store in Indiana this fall in Greyhound Commons at 14480 Lowes Way in Carmel. It also opened a membership center July 26 at 1410 S. Rangeline Road in Carmel.
BJ’s is the third-largest warehouse club chain in the country. It opened a 105,000-square-foot store in 2022 at 13210 Tegler Drive near Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville.
The stores sell groceries, electronics, apparel and other items, offering a mix of brand-name and private-label items in a no-frills environment.
To help it reduce prices , BJ’s deliberately limits the variety of items it offers. The average BJ’s store carries about 7,200 different stock keeping units, or SKUs. In comparison, the average supermarket carries about 40,000 SKUs, and a supercenter might carry more than 100,000 SKUs.
As is common in the warehouse club model, BJ’s customers must purchase annual memberships in order to shop at the store. BJ’s annual membership fees start at $55, but it often offers promotional discounts to reduce membership costs.
Through Oct. 17, people can register for The Club Card membership for one year at $25 and The Club+ Card Membership for $70. Shoppers who sign up for The Club+ Card membership receive five cents off per gallon at BJ’s Gas and earn 2% back in rewards on most purchases.
Mark Pi’s Express
After 30 years of operations in Fishers, Mark Pi’s Express at 11860 Allisonville Road closed last week due to the retirement of its owners.
Mark Pi’s was part of large chain of Chinese eateries based in Columbus, Ohio, that once had numerous locations, mostly franchises, in central Indiana under the names Mark Pi’s Express and Mark Pi’s China Gate.
The company’s website no longer lists any restaurants in Indiana.
Chucky-D
A chicken-focused fast-food restaurant that opened its debut location in downtown Indianapolis in May opened a Noblesville store last week, at 11150 E. 146th St.
Chucky-D is a concept launched by three partners who have experience managing Japanese hibachi, ramen and sushi restaurants in central Indiana.
Its menu includes chicken wings, chicken skewers, tenders and sandwiches, with flavor options including Thai and teriyaki.
Pawz Pet Cafe
Pawz Pet Cafe, the second cat cafe in Hamilton County, opened in June at 481 Gradle Drive in Carmel.
The business features a cat lounge where visitors can spend up to an hour hanging out with adoptable felines from Paws on my Heart Inc. cat rescue, a beverage bar with boba tea and sparkling sodas, grooming services and pet supplies.
The cost to visit the cat lounge is $10 for a half-hour and $18 for one hour. Pawz Pet Cafe is open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Visitors can make reservations ahead of time online.
Hamilton County’s first cat cafe, Smitten Kitten Cat Cafe, opened in 2022 at 7852 E. 96th St. in Fishers.
PetSuites
Covington, Kentucky-based PetSuites of America Inc. opened an 11,000-square-foot pet-boarding and day care business on July 24 at 17502 Carey Road in Westfield.
PetSuites in Westfield features private boarding and daycare spaces for pets, indoor and outdoor play yards and outdoor water features. The business offers boarding, grooming services, daycare and customizable training for dogs.
An online and mobile portal provides pet owners access to webcams and 24/7 booking options.
PetSuites has more than 80 locations nationwide, including at 9271 Park E. Court in Fishers, 1032 N. Emerson Ave. in Greenwood and 4048 W. 94th St. in Indianapolis.
Culver’s
Culver’s, the Wisconsin-based burger chain known also known for its crinkle-cut fries and custard ice cream, opened a new restaurant June 24 at 3263 U.S. 421 in Zionsville.
The Zionsville restaurant, franchised by Noblesville-based Meyer Food Management Co. President Jeff Meyer, is the 11th Culver’s restaurant in the metropolitan area.
Lake City Bank
Warsaw-based Lake City Bank opened a new full-service branch July 22 at 1361 Rangeline Road in Carmel.
The new Carmel office is Lake City Bank’s 54th location in Indiana and its eighth office in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The bank is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday.
The location also has a space for bank employees called Lake City University Training Center where workers can complete professional development courses provided by the bank’s training department.
First Farmers Bank & Trust
Converse-based First Farmers Bank & Trust plans to open a full-service branch by the end of the year at the 25-acre Lebanon Gateway Shops complex at the intersection of Interstate 65 and State Road 32.
The Lebanon branch will be First Farmers’ 38th location in Indiana and Illinois.
First Farmers also plans to open another full-service branch this year in Carmel’s Arts & Design District. The Carmel branch will occupy 2,800 square feet at 111 S. Rangeline Road in a three-story, 50,000-square foot mixed-use building developed by LOR Corp.
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They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Sounds like Wally’s is a Bucee’s knock-off…