LEADING QUESTIONS: Fast-food guru digs philanthropy
What formative experience helped inspire a Taco Bell franchisee to donate well over $1 million to youth charities? What was his biggest bonehead mistake in business? Charlie Brown has answers.
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Steak n Shake reports higher same-store sales
Same-store sales grew during the fiscal third quarter 4.9 percent, helping revenue during the three-month period climb 4.5 percent, to $165.2 million.
INSIDE DISH: Carmel Cajun eatery Mudbugs turns corner
After a shaky start, ownership shakeup and puzzled looks from potential patrons, Belinda and Roy LeBlanc have turned their homegrown oasis for Louisiana cuisine into a profitable venture.
Eastgate owner plots unusual office-space strategy
The owner of the former Eastgate shopping center has begun marketing a third phase of its mall overhaul: About 225,000 square feet of emergency backup office space.
Finish Line brass buoyant as key retail season arrives
The company clearly is on a nice run, with seven straight quarters of increasing same-store sales and increasing earnings per share.
HHGregg shares plunge after rare quarterly loss
Shares of electronics and appliance retailer HHGregg Inc. slumped more than 18 percent Thursday morning, to a two-year low, after the chain reported its first quarterly loss in four years.
Retailer HHGregg suffers rare quarterly loss
The appliance and electronics retailer on Thursday reported a loss of $800,000, or 2 cents per share, in its fiscal first quarter ended June 30—just its second quarterly loss since going public in 2007.
Former Nordstrom space could find Super Bowl use
The massive space in Circle Centre mall vacated by high-end retailer Nordstrom could be used to host corporate events surrounding the big game.
INSIDE DISH: ‘Edibles’ team returns with moveable feast
Becky Hostetter and her husband, David, are applying lessons learned from the implosion of Essential Edibles to their new health-conscious food trailer, Duos.
Upland Brewing plans Bloomington expansion
Upland Brewing Co. expects to spend $3 million to buy, renovate and equip a former RCA Thomson warehouse, more than doubling its brewing capacity.
Prospects bright for Borders replacements
Brokers expect strong demand from other retailers, in part because the failed bookstore chain carefully chose its real estate, opting for locations near concentrations of affluent and educated consumers.
Inspections find fewer Indiana underage alcohol sales
State inspections found Indiana's bars, restaurants and liquor stores doing a much better job of not selling alcohol to underaged Hoosiers.
A few restaurants close as other eateries, retailers plan growth
Among the casualties is the downtown restaurant Hue and Carmel’s The Glass Chimney. El Rodeo, Eggshell Bistro and Hotcakes Emporium are among those opening locations in the area.
Borders liquidation another blow to retail real estate
Borders Group Inc.’s proposed liquidation will increase available U.S. retail space by about 6.3 million square feet as the industry struggles with near-record vacancy rates and stagnant rents.
Borders turns the final page, will close all stores
The chain of bookstores will shutter its remaining 399 locations by September, including the few left in central Indiana. Company brass blame the changing book industry, eReader revolution, and turbulent economy.
Irvington scores Ossip, set for streetscape project
The Irvington retail trade area stands to get a big boost from two projects set to begin this fall: Ossip Optometry’s renovation of a historic building and a $2.9M makeover of East Washington Street designed to make the business district a draw for pedestrians.
Jillian’s set to vacate ground floor of downtown building
An unidentified restaurant and bar is set to sign a lease by Sept. 1 to assume the Meridian Street space Jillian’s has agreed to relinquish as part of a lease dispute with its landlord. The entertainment complex will continue to operate on the second and third floors.
Judge approves Borders auction, liquidators open bid
Borders Group, the nation's second-largest bookstore chain that once operated over 1,000 stores, appears headed for liquidation after a judge on Thursday approved its motion to auction itself off with an offer from a team of liquidators as its opening bid.
INSIDE DISH: Meat-and-potatoes Murphy’s makes subtle updates
Murphy's Steakhouse may seem frozen in time, but owner Craig Stonebraker has expanded its footprint, revamped its menu and prepared for exterior upgrades.
Kilroy’s blazes trail into the heart of Broad Ripple
Plan to take over former Cardinal Fitness facility is likely to be opposed by Broad Ripple Village Association.