McDonald’s CEO, an Indy native, steps down as sales decline
McDonald's CEO Don Thompson is stepping down as the world's biggest hamburger chain fights to hold onto customers and transform its image.
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In Biglari’s latest showdown, he’s not the rabble-rouser
Minneapolis-based Groveland Capital LLC has filed notice that it will seek to replace Sardar Biglari and Biglari Holdings Inc.’s other five directors with its own nominees at the company’s annual meeting.
Three Indy-area Wet Seal stores part of mass closings
The Circle Centre and Hamilton Town Center locations of struggling teen clothing retailer Wet Seal are among 338 stores that closed as of Wednesday.
Gary Brackett, a popular Colt, tackles second act as restaurateur
Gary Brackett’s personal credo—be humble, be hungry and work harder than everybody else—has served him well. Now he hopes to parlay his success on the gridiron into his restaurant operations.
Startup car wash chain aims for high-end splash
There’s no shortage of car washes around Indianapolis. But the owners of Prime Car Wash think the competition has missed a spot—both here and around the country.
Steak n Shake profit falls as franchised restaurants grow
The Indianapolis-based burger chain’s smaller annual profit resulted from an ongoing effort to increase the company’s number of franchised restaurants, with plans to open units as far away as the Middle East.
Settlement reached in Steak n Shake franchisee suit
It's not clear whether the settlement Steak n Shake has reached with St. Louis-based Druco Restaurants will give the franchisee more leeway on pricing.
Orange Leaf franchisee seeks $33M in suit
A dispute between one of the nation’s largest frozen yogurt chains and a local franchisee has sparked dueling lawsuits, in one of which the franchisee is seeking $33 million in damages.
Meijer drops rezoning request for proposed Glendale store
The retailer had filed plans to rezone nearly an acre along East 56th Street and Keystone Avenue for a 200,000-square-foot store, which neighbors argued would bring too much traffic to the area.
Running guru Kennedy joins Athletic Annex ownership
Bob Kennedy has become a partner of the longtime northwest-side specialty running and walking retailer, while maintaining his ownership of a three-store chain in San Diego.
Jimmy John’s says hacker stole credit-card data at 216 stores
The data breach affected a dozen stores in Indiana, including four in Indianapolis and one in Carmel.
Noble Roman’s dough rises with higher profit, revenue
The Indianapolis-based franchisor continues to focus on offering take-and-bake pizzas in grocery stores and stand-alone locations to grow revenue.
HHGregg ditches ad campaign, returns to former agency
The Indianapolis-based retailer is going back to Zimmerman Advertising a year after parting ways with the firm and just two months after unveiling a “brand transformation.”
State scrutiny of Village Pantry safety issues set to end
The convenience store chain has been taking corrective action to better protect employees after the shootings of Indianapolis clerks in 2009 and 2011.
Noble Roman’s awarded $1.5M in battle with franchisees
The Indianapolis-based pizza chain is still waiting to collect after being locked in a years-long legal dispute over franchise agreements and royalties.
J.D. Byrider adds franchises in seven states
J.D. Byrider, the largest used-car franchisor in the nation, continued its national growth spurt by opening stores in seven different states between mid-December and Monday, the Carmel-based company announced Tuesday.
Biglari’s Steak n Shake licensing deal stirs up critics
Under the 20-year deal, Sardar Biglari won’t receive royalties if he remains atop the company. But if he were forced out of for anything but malfeasance, or if it were sold, he’d receive 2.5 percent of sales for five years—a sum that could surpass $100 million.
Steak n Shake cooks up expansion plan for Saudi Arabia
The Indianapolis-based burger chain has growth plans far afield of its base of operations in the Midwest, intending to open 50 restaurants in the Middle Eastern country.
Rebranding of bird-food retail chain ups emphasis on core product
Wild Birds Unlimited recently unveiled a new marketing program encompassing everything from revamped store design to new staff training to a rebalancing of the product line. The idea was to place less emphasis on gift items and more on the store’s core product—birdseed.
Noble Roman’s sees rising profit, revenue
The company said it has entered into agreements to open 45 stand-alone take-n-bake pizza locations.