Houlihan’s gets hip
Kansas-based restaurant chain Houlihan’s has inked deals for new diners at Castleton Square Mall and Hamilton Town Center and hopes to open two other restaurants in Plainfield and Greenwood. The chain also has…
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State to double rail-trail inventory
The state has reached a deal to buy more than 150 miles of abandoned rail lines for new trails, a deal that would nearly double Indiana’s 170 miles of rail-trails. The governor…
A new floral arrangement
Looking for flowers downtown? There’s a new arrangement, thanks to a shakeup among locally based florists. Enflora Flowers for Business, part of McNamara, plans to open in Chase Tower in early February. And…
AllPoints Midwest lands huge lease
The massive new AllPoints Midwest industrial park in Plainfield has landed its first tenant in a mega deal that likely will
be the area’s biggest industrial lease in 2007. Local logistics firm Prime Distribution Services Inc. has signed a lease for
1.2 million square feet in the 920-acre park, a joint venture between Indianapolis-based Duke Realty Corp. and Browning Investments
Inc.
BEHIND THE NEWS: Steak n Shake troubles may cut chance of sale
Here’s a silver lining to The Steak n Shake Co.’s deepening woes: They might scare off potential buyers, keeping the locally based diner chain independent for the foreseeable future. “While Steak n Shake continues to look at alternatives to increase shareholder value, we believe the business will need to be stabilized to attract any meaningful interest,” CL King & Associates analyst Michael Gallo wrote in a new report. Indeed, getting the 491-restaurant chain back on track could take a long…
Kits & Kaboodle founder back at it with Mass Ave store
Local-toy-store veteran Natalie Canull is now operating a bustling store on Massachusetts Avenue that’s narrowly focused on
upscale toys–a niche that keeps her out of the path of mass-market heavyweights like Toys “R” Us and Wal-Mart.
Regulators seek mortgage reforms
State regulators want more firepower to fight mortgage crimes. But a month before the General Assembly convenes, real estate
interests are uneasy, fearing lawmakers may go overboard.
Your wish list?
A final discussion question to consider today: What retailers, restaurants or development methods are missing from Indy? Plenty of new names are entering the market, and “green” building seems to be gaining…
Your favorite Indy building?
Several downtown projects, including Lucas Oil Stadium and the JW Marriott, will add new dimensions to a skyline that hasn’t changed much in the last dozen years. What is your favorite building…
Your vision for Lucasville?
The host of Property Lines, Cory Schouten, is on vacation this week. Meanwhile, the blog will feature discussion questions about Indianapolis real estate. Today’s topic is the area surrounding Lucas Oil…
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Reforms could create barriers to homeownership
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Maybe it is because no one wants me to help cook, or perhaps it’s due to the stream of college football. Mostly I think I like it because it is such an unhurried, fun, shared day. This year, many of us gathered for Thanksgiving at family homes and we gave thanks for the many gifts life brings us in this nation. What many of us didn’t conscientiously dwell on is how important the simple act…
Ritter’s sets new game plan
The Indianapolis-based parent of the Ritter’s Frozen Custard brand has been stuck in a cold streak lately, facing scores of
new ice-cream competitors and a dwindling lineup of franchisees. But RFC Franchising LLC is planning big changes designed
to firm up the home-grown chain, which now has 48 stores in nine states, down from more than 60 locations in 2005.
Good news for housing market?
Local homeowners tired of all the bad news about the housing market likely will be encouraged by data in a recent Fortune Magazine article. The magazine studied the correlation…
Fixing a crumbling canal walk
The oldest portion of the downtown canal walk could soon get a $3.2-million upgrade. The city is finalizing plans for new pavement, stairs, retaining walls, lighting and railings along…
Commentary: Let’s welcome Hilbert back
You gotta love Steve Hilbert. He conceived of an idea and had the strength and focus to achieve an extraordinary result that he sustained over a number of years. … He will undoubtedly return to the grand game of entrepreneurship. If given the opportunity, I would be inclined to invest in his next venture. -July 10, 2000 I penned the above prediction in this column on the anointment of Gary Wendt as CEO and savior of Conseco Inc. After Stephen…
Concert hall component would test demand
Entertainment is a big part of a $480 million development proposed for the south side of downtown–plans include a 3,400-seat
theater to attract the likes of Bruce Springsteen and first-run tours of Broadway shows such as “Wicked.” The question is
whether the city can support another midsize venue.
VIEWPOINT: The high cost of traffic Band-Aids
According to the article titled “Traffic Transformation?” in the Oct. 15 IBJ, the Indiana Department of Transportation is working on a roughly $600 million plan to relieve traffic congestion in the area of interstates 465 and 69. Hold on a second! What is really broken here? I contend little to nothing. Yes, roadways need maintenance and upkeep, but these roadways operate just fine. Because this area is congested at the morning and evening rush hour, the perception exists that these…
SoDo proposal faces stiff odds
If Circle Centre mall were built today, it would cost $420 million. Throw in another $60 million, and you’ve got the price
of Legends District-SoDo, a proposed mixed-use development on the south edge of downtown.
Fountain Square buildings for sale
A prime block of Fountain Square real estate is on the market. Businessman Don Swayze is asking $1.2 million for two buildings and a used-car lot he owns along Virginia…
Five-o-clock, time for bar news
An upscale martini bar and restaurant has signed a deal to take the anchor retail space at 757 Mass Ave, the luxury condo building at the southwest corner of Massachusetts and College avenues….