Yats, Aldi and another steakhouse
Montana Mike’s, a Kansas-based steakhouse chain, hopes to claim Indianapolis as a lucrative new market. The chain wants to open in Greenwood first, said Madison Jobs, Montana Mike’s vice president of franchise…
Real Estate
Articles
Residential real estate market follows nation into slump
For most of this decade, the Indianapolis residential real estate market enjoyed a good run. But in 2007 it muddled through
the doldrums just like the rest of the country, and builders pulled out all the stops to avoid getting stuck with inventory.
Developers roll out barrage of projects
It was a big year for downtown development proposals. Two in particular grabbed headlines: Legends District SoDo and Penn
Centre.
Developers have new plans for corner
The retail juggernaut at 86th Street and Keystone Avenue could get even stronger in the next several years. Locally based
Premier Properties USA Inc. revealed plans in 2007 for a $750 million redevelopment of a prime corner near The Fashion Mall
at Keystone.
Financial woes may keep Genesco purchase from crossing Finish Line
An acquisition that looked daring and bold when it was announced quickly blew up on Finish Line Inc. The Indianapolis retailer
agreed in June to buy Tennessee-based Genesco Inc.–parent of Journeys, Hat World and other mall chains–for $1.5 billion
in
cash.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Indiana’s economy: The fundamentals are in place
Predicting the size and scope of economic activity for the nation, state and region is one of the more important roles played by university economists. But 2008 is the kind of year that really tests economic forecasting. The Bureau of Business Research just released its forecasts for Indiana and two regional labor markets. In total, we examined eight different data series and have stressed the performance of net employment and wages. Our forecast is fairly optimistic. We predict job growth…
BARcelona could close
A manager at the downtown tapas restaurant tells Property Lines the operation is in trouble and could soon close. Owner Frank Schmitz, of St. Louis, recently bought out his partner in the…
Finale underway for Piano Merchant
The Piano Merchant is closing after almost 22 years in business at the corner of 54th Street and College Avenue. One of the three partners is ill and another…
Failing Noble Roman’s franchisees say chain doesn’t deliver on promises
Noble Roman's Inc. wrote an impressive comeback story by selling its home-grown pizza and subs concepts to hundreds of
gas stations, bowling alleys and food courts. But the Indianapolis company’s push to add stand-alone restaurants across the
country isn’t going as smoothly.
INVESTING: Holding tight right now might wallop portfolio
While the seasons are a lot more predictable than the stock market, the market does go through climatic changes that investors should adjust to. In late September, after the market had been rallying for about six weeks off the August low, I mentioned it would be a good idea to reduce equity to around 40 -cent to 50 percent. In the middle of November, I wrote that it might be smart to reduce that level even more. If you’re still…
Bar & Grill replacing trophy shop
Brothers Bar & Grill, a small Wisconsin-based chain, has filed plans to replace Broad Ripple Trophy Center at one of the neighborhood’s most prominent corners, said Senior Planner Bryan…
Sexy & Intimate and Scotty’s
A couple of restaurant updates: The owners of downtown’s Scholar’s Inn, Lyle & Kerry Feigenbaum, plan to close the restaurant on Jan. 1 for a month-long remodeling project. They plan to…
New JW design unveiled
Plans for a 1,000-room JW Marriott convention hotel now envision a taller building, with a whole new look and a larger pricetag. The hotel would be 34 stories, up from 29, and the project would cost $425 million, up from…
City may lift Pan Am covenant
Indiana Sports Corp. has asked the city to reduce the portion of Pan Am Plaza included in a covenant that restricts development. If approved, the updated covenant would cover only 10,000 square feet,…
Premier plows forward on Venu
A new site plan for the $750-million Venu project shows four anchor tenants: Whole Foods; Barnes & Noble; Arhaus, an upscale furniture retailer; and REI, an outdoor-gear superstore that would be new to…
‘Mystery man’ at helm of Premier Properties dreams big, but bills pile up
Christopher P. White is arguably the city’s most daring real estate developer. But an IBJ review of hundreds of pages of public
records shows White and his Premier Properties USA Inc. are facing major financial and legal challenges.
BEHIND THE NEWS: Simon’s Arizona flop highlights perils of housing sector
No wonder investors are jittery. The housing slump is stinging companies of all stripes these days, even those that would seem to be safe havens. A case in point: mall developer Simon Property Group Inc., which surprised investors this month by announcing it was taking a $26 million charge to write off its entire investment in what was to become a huge Arizona housing development. “Frankly, we had forgotten they had this Arizona thing,” said Lou Taylor, an analyst with…
Malls are ‘soft targets’ for terrorism, experts say: Risks aren’t scaring away holiday shoppers
The deadly shooting spree at a Nebraska mall this month highlighted a challenge confronting Simon Property Group Inc. and other shopping center operators: how to protect their properties from violent acts, or even terrorism, while also leaving them welcoming to shoppers. Most retail real estate owners have ramped up security since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, though experts say shopping centers, like schools, remain “soft targets” for terrorism. “Shopping center owners have been very concerned about security for their patrons for…
Should city embrace hotel union?
Just when you thought plans for a new downtown convention hotel were set to go forward, four City-County
Council members want the full council to essentially force the new hotel to employ union workers after it
opens.
The City-County Council, which…
A greasy-spoon grudge match
Long a staple in the South, Huddle House diners are beginning to pop up in Indiana. Can they outmatch Bud’s Chili and Alice’s Iced Tea over at Waffle House? The first Indianapolis-area…