First Merchants CEO Rechin stepping down after 13 years
Mike Rechin, who has served as the bank’s president and CEO since 2007, plans to retire at the end of the year. His departure will trigger several promotions among the bank’s other executives.
Susan Orr
Articles
Sahm’s Restaurant Group closing downtown cafeteria, tavern
Ed Sahm, the restaurant group’s founder and owner, said the pandemic-related exodus of downtown office workers meant the two locations are no longer financially viable.
Downtown Indy CEO leading fight for downtown’s recovery
Sherry Seiwert spoke with IBJ recently about what her organization is doing to help the city bounce back.
Chase to close three Indianapolis bank branches
The three branches, all of them in Indianapolis, will close on different dates in October and November. Even after the closures, though, Chase will still have three dozen or so locations around the city.
Cracker Barrel launches ‘ghost kitchen’ test pilot in Indianapolis
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. is converting one of its Indianapolis restaurants into a food-preparation-only location as a way for the company to experiment with the emerging “ghost kitchen” trend.
Artisan gift shop coming to Fountain Square
The husband-and-wife owners previously sold their creations on social media and at craft fairs. Also this week: Joella’s Hot Chicken, SweeTie’s Gourmet Treats, Lily & Sparrow and Ross Dress for Less.
ClusterTruck expanding to Broad Ripple, Fishers
ClusterTruck plans to start deliveries in Broad Ripple on Monday and in Fishers on Oct. 8, marking an expansion of the food-delivery company’s suburban Indianapolis footprint.
Dollar General to open urban-concept DGX store in BMO Plaza
Dollar General launched its DGX concept in 2017. It now has 14 locations around the nation, including one that opened this summer on Mass Ave.
Failure risks escalate for small businesses as pandemic drags on
Business advisers and advocacy groups say many small businesses that have managed to survive the pandemic so far are heading into a brutal fall.
Indy Art & Seek project brings local art to neighborhoods citywide
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Arts Council of Indianapolis have teamed up with 72 local artists for a project that has put 107 pieces of art on temporary display all over town.
International Marketplace district welcomes new, reopening restaurants
Meanwhile, plans are in the works for a $12 million International Marketplace welcome center and museum that would replace a former Value City Furniture store.
Indianapolis personal care products manufacturer Mansfield-King acquired
Founded in 2005 by Charles Haywood, Mansfield-King develops and manufactures products that are sold under its customers’ brand names. The east-side company has 154 employees.
Travelers nervous about flying with commercial airlines are turning to charters instead
According to FlightAware statistics, on Aug. 23, U.S. airlines operated 15,419 flights, down 45% from a year earlier. On that same day, the United States saw 8,883 business aviation flights—down only 4% from a year earlier.
Owner closes Butler-Tarkington hardware store after 43 years in business
The Ace Hardware owner cited a variety of reasons for the closure, including the difficulty of competing against larger retailers and increased business costs.
Plainfield-based MD Logistics acquired by Japan-based Nippon Express
MD Logistics says it will keep operating under the same name and does not expect any layoffs or consolidations as a result of the acquisition.
Oregon-based drive-thru coffee chain coming to Indy market
The Human Bean, which opened its first shop in 1998, is coming to Westfield. The local franchisee said he’s scouting Hamilton County for more sites. Also this week: Noble Roman’s, Big Woods and more.
Beech Grove Ponderosa, once a sales superstar, closes due to pandemic
The Beech Grove location’s owner, Fishers-based CMR Partners LLP, has also closed its three other Ponderosa locations since mid-July.
INDOT announces short-term Fountain Square bridge closures
The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to partially or totally close two bridges over interstates at the northern edge of Fountain Square for 12 days each starting next week.
Ecommerce startup TruLocal preparing to launch in Indianapolis
The San Francisco-based company plans to offer local retailers an online platform where they can reach customers and sell their products.
Used-car dealer Byrider hasn’t suffered much in pandemic
The company says sales are up after an earlier drop-off, and it hasn’t yet seen a spike in delinquencies or defaults among credit-challenged borrowers, who represent its core customers.