Fire destroys east-side Indianapolis restaurant
Officials say frozen fire hydrants hindered firefighters during an early-morning blaze that burned down a Texas Roadhouse.
Retail
Articles
Steak n Shake slashes restaurant spending as CEO hoards cash
From 1999 to 2008, Steak n Shake Co. spent an average of $55 million a year to add dozens of restaurants and buy equipment
for existing
ones. In 2009, the locally based
chain spent just $5.8 million.
Location, personal touch drive tasting room growth
Upland Brewing Co. and Chateau Thomas Winery are broadening their use of tasting rooms, opening outlets far from their production
facilities in hopes of attracting new customers.
Shoppers spend a little more during holiday season
Retail sales rose 3.6 percent from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, compared with a 3.2-percent drop in the year-ago period, according
to figures from MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse.
Sparse shelves greet post-Christmas deal hunters
Shoppers headed to America’s malls Saturday, many with gift cards in hand, hoping to snag after-Christmas discounts. They
were greeted with big markdowns—in some cases topping 75 percent off—but often found limited selection.
Insurance company rejects Steak n Shake takeover bid
A small Michigan insurer has rejected an acquisition bid from The Steak n Shake Co., describing the offer as a “hostile takeover
attempt.”
NEWSMAKER: Mel Simon was shopping mall pioneer
Mel Simon, who
died at 82 on Sept. 16, changed how America shops. He was chairman emeritus of locally
based Simon Property Group Inc., the nation’s largest owner of retail real estate.
Cash-flush Finish Line likely to open new stores
With an improved balance sheet and $150 million in its pocket, the athletic-gear retailer is looking at new locations and
improving its online shopping hub.
Finish Line profit exceeds analyst expectations
The Finish Line Inc. barely eked into the black in its fiscal third quarter, but even that exceeded analysts’ expectations.
UPDATE: Steak n Shake turning away from core business
The Steak n Shake Co. is taking a dramatic turn away from its core business with a bid to purchase a Michigan insurer in a
deal valued at almost $37 million.
BREAKING: Steak n Shake offers to acquire Michigan insurer
The Steak n Shake Co. has offered to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Fremont Michigan Insuracorp Inc. in a deal
that could be worth almost $37 million.
Falcone mourning Saab
Former dealer saw the end coming, but says customers are following him to Volkswagen and Subaru.
Even Bentley sales are down
A Zionsville dealer says the economy is influencing its wealthy buyers, but things would be worse under Rolls-Royce.
UPDATE: Steak n Shake plan makes ‘perfect sense’ to investment pro
The Steak n Shake Co.’s unusual plan to initiate a reverse stock split has the support of at least one local investment
adviser,
if in fact the company’s CEO is attempting to model it after Warren Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway.
Steak n Shake plans 20-1 reverse stock split
The Steak n Shake Co., in an unusual gambit, plans to initiate a reverse stock split that would reduce its number of shares
outstanding from almost 29 million to just 1.4 million and boost its per-share price from roughly $12 to $240.
Retail sales rise more than expected
The government’s report came as a surprise because the nation’s retailers have been reporting generally lackluster results
for the start of the holiday shopping season.
Stout’s Shoes still in step after 123 years
After more than a century in business, Indianapolis-based Stout’s Footwear Co. isn’t just
surviving. It also is proceeding with plans to open
a store next year on the city’s north side.
Espresso Book Machine could open new pages in local retailing
The pricey Espresso prints and binds books while customers wait. But retailers aren’t sure what to expect when the the machine
gains wider acceptance.
Bloomington panel won’t support chain-store ban
A task force appointed by Bloomington’s mayor will instead look at other options for protecting the small-town character of the city’s downtown from standardized chain stores and eateries.
UPDATE: Simon stock jumps on $2.3B acquisition
Adding the 22-mall portfolio of Baltimore-based Prime Outlets will give Simon a total of 63 outlet malls with more than 25
million square feet of space.