Steak n Shake results lost some sizzle in 2016
Same-stores sales for the burger chain dropped for the first time since 2008. Profit and customer traffic also fell.
Franchises
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Burger King owner to acquire Popeyes for $1.8 billion
Restaurant Brands International Inc. has agreed to buy Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc., adding a fried-chicken outfit to its lineup of burgers and doughnuts. The two chains have about 70 restaurants in the Indianapolis area.
Airport looks to add more local flavor to concessions
Indianapolis International Airport wants to bring in more local vendors as contracts with some current concessionaires expire, and add other features to better reflect the character of the city.
Sonic cooks up new plan to blanket Indianapolis area with drive-ins
Sonic is the nation’s largest drive-in chain and has solid name recognition, but has struggled to gain a major foothold in central Indiana.
Noble Roman’s dumps take-and-bake restaurant strategy for new concept
The company said it took a $1.4 million loss in the third quarter from discontinuing operations in its standalone take-and-bake restaurant operations. It plans to focus on a new restaurant concept that will debut in January.
Sixteen Indy-area Popeyes acquired by franchise group
Indiana-based Womack Restaurants began its association with the Atlanta-based chicken chain in 2014 and also has locations in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Buffalo Wild Wings-owned taco chain targets Indianapolis for expansion
Buffalo Wild Wings hopes to open 15 to 20 R Taco locations in the metropolitan area as soon as possible and is seeking franchisees with multi-restaurant experience to lead the growth.
Scotty’s Brewhouse founder negotiating to sell stake in chain
The deal with an Arizona-based private-equity firm could take the small Indianapolis-based chain to 200 restaurants within the next four years, including locations in Japan.
Shapiro’s plans brand expansion into Cincinnati market
The restaurant in Blue Ash, northeast of Cincinnati, is expected to open next spring.
Fresh To Order plans 10 restaurants in Indy under franchise deal
The “fast fine” menu features soups, salads, sandwiches and dinner items, including Coconut Curry Salmon, Calamari and Chicken Wild Mushroom.
Tesla would scale back Indiana operations under a legislative proposal
A Tesla executive said a proposal to prohibit direct-to-consumer auto sales would, if passed, prompt the company to make a U-turn with respect to expanding operations in the state.
Fast-casual dining chain Newk’s planning 15 eateries in Indiana
Newk's Eatery announced Thursday that it has reached a development agreement with local investors to open 15 locations in the Indianapolis area and southern Indiana over the next several years.
Chain restaurants feeling sales squeeze
Diners are choosing among more options—and often favoring independent restaurants to chains.
Soft pretzel vendor eyes Indianapolis for expansion
Indiana-based franchisor Ben’s Soft Pretzels LLC announced Tuesday that it was seeking franchisees to open 25 locations in the Indianapolis area by 2021.
Chicken chain with big appetite for growth stumbles in Indy
After rapidly opening restaurants in Indianapolis, Atlanta-based Popeyes says they are underperforming, and it's trying to bolster their results.
HHGregg nixing Indy distribution operations, cutting 40 workers
The struggling, Indy-based retailer says the move is part of a larger strategy that could save as much as $25 million over two years.
Zionsville-based Apex plans big expansion through franchising
The window company, founded in 1998, has converted its existing 15 market licensees into franchisees and plans to expand into 50 to 100 more U.S. locations during the next 18 months.
Tim Hortons targets Indianapolis as part of expansion plan
Coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons, a cult favorite in its Canadian homeland, is counting on Indianapolis as it makes a bigger push into the United States.
Steak n Shake ups ante in cheap-food strategy
The burger chain in November announced that it recorded a 3 percent increase in same-store sales in the third quarter. It was the 27th quarter in a row in which same-store sales rose compared with the same period a year earlier—a stunning run of success in the topsy-turvy world of restaurants.
Local McAlister’s franchisee sells 19 restaurants
McIndy Ventures LLC, which opened its first McAlister’s in 2002 in Indianapolis, has sold its portfolio of eateries across Indiana to Tennessee-based Southern Rock Restaurants LLC.