Roundup: No-frills grocery coming to Carmel, virtual reality arcade to Fishers

In an aggressive expansion mode nationwide, German grocery store chain Aldi is planning to open a new location in Carmel.

The nearly 22,000-square-foot store would be near the southwest corner of 106th Street and Michigan Road, according to construction documents filed with the city of Carmel. It would be directly north of LA Fitness along Workout Way.

Aldi has been heavily investing in existing locations as a way to capture more market share. The company is spending $1.6 billion to renovate 1,300 stores across the country by 2020, and that includes spending $30 million to revamp 22 locations in central Indiana.

The chain, which is known for being a no-frills shopping option, also plans to open 400 stores nationwide by 2020, including up to five more in the Indianapolis area.

The company declined to comment on its plans for Carmel. The Carmel Plan Commission is expected to discuss the project at its meeting Tuesday evening.

In other northern suburb retail news:

• Heady Hollow Brewing Co. on Allisonville Road in Fishers has closed due to “unexpected circumstances,” IBJ’s Property Lines recently reported. But the space won’t stay vacant for long. MashCraft Brewing is expected to take over operations within the next few months. 

• (Editor's note: The following item was updated after the business located in Indianapolis instead of Fishers.) A virtual reality arcade that was expected to open in Fishers has moved further south. Altered Realities VR Arcade is open at 8455 Castlewood Dr., Suite E. According to the company’s website, it will have 16 state-of-the-art VR rigs and rotating games that can be played by individuals or in groups.

• Two holiday pop-up shops have opened at Hamilton Town Center. The Lucy Couture Boutique and a Christmas tree nursery by Whitetail Acres Nursery and Landscape will be open until Dec. 31 near Santa’s hut.

• Also in holiday shopping: Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt opened Sunday—a day later than planned because of inclement weather. A variety of German-themed vendors are selling items in nearly 40 huts set up along the Center Green outside the Palladium. 

• The restaurant announcements keep rolling in for Whitestown: Fast food chain Wendy’s plans to build a new store at 6120 Whitestown Parkway, and Panera Bread will construct a store at 6046 Whitestown Parkway.

• Also in Whitestown, Ricker’s Oil Co. has filed plans for a new gas station and convenience store that will be located at 4485 Anson Blvd.

• Vegas Nails & Spa has filed plans to open a nail salon at 11036 N. Michigan Road in Carmel. It will be in the same complex as Sherwin-Williams and Moe’s Southwest Grill, which just opened Nov. 9.

• Village Dental at Saxony plans to start construction on a new office within the next couple of weeks. The office will be located at 13390 Overview Drive and should open by August or September.

• In other dentistry news: Jenny Neese Family Dentistry has filed plans to open an office at 6426 Whitestown Parkway.

• Huntington Learning Center expects to open a new location at 9665 Olio Road in Fishers. The tutoring and test prep service center also has a location in the Cool Creek Commons retail development on 146th Street in Westfield.

• A salon is coming soon to the Geist area: Dragonfly Salon has filed plans to open at 11561 Geist Pavilion. The retail center is on the east side of Olio Road between 113th and 116th streets.

• The Humane Society for Hamilton County has opened a resale store in Noblesville. Trends of Tails Resale Boutique is located at 1109 S. 10th St., next to Dollar General. All of the net proceeds benefit the Humane Society.

• Bank of America has filed plans for a new location in Noblesville. The bank branch will be located at 12873 Campus Parkway, near BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.