Roundup: Bowling alley closing
Sport Bowl calling it quitsThe owners of Sport Bowl, a south-side institution for 67 years, plan to close in about a week. The 32-lane bowling alley has struggled since locally based Royal Pin…
Retail
Articles
Texas investor enlists former Steak n Shake exec in quest to revive chain
Two executives with longtime ties to The Steak n Shake Co. have joined a dissident Texas investor in his quest to overhaul
the Indianapolis-based restaurant chain. Shareholders who have agreed to work with Sardar Biglari include a former board member
the company once described as a “modern-day founder” of the restaurant chain, along with a former partner in Kelley & Partners
Ltd., the investment firm led by company patriarch E.W. Kelley before his 2003 death.
CVS to replace downtown IHOP
CVS has filed plans to build a new store where an IHOP now stands at the corner of 16th and Meridian streets. The new pharmacy would replace the iconic…
Obama taking downtown space
Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign plans to temporarily take over one of the city’s most prominent retail spaces. The campaign has reached a deal to open an office in Flagstar Bank’s former…
Struggling Noble Roman’s takes over franchisee’s 6 units
Noble Roman’s Inc. has taken over the operation of six franchised restaurants in Indianapolis in a bid to prove its concept
can be executed profitably. The move–which comes amid a chorus of discontent from franchisees and as the company explores
the possibility of selling itself–could help the 1,000-restaurant chain avoid the embarrassment of store failures in its
own back yard.
Farm Fresh clients pay a premium to support local growers, organics
Matt Ewer and his wife, Elizabeth Blessing, launched Farm Fresh Delivery LLC in July. With nearly 500 subscribers already,
the organically- and locally-grown-groceries delivery business is blooming in a segment where many large, mass-market retailers
failed during the dotcom bust.
Texas investor wins over Steak n Shake shareholders, aims for chairmanship
Texas investor Sardar Biglari rode a wave of shareholder anger to a landslide victory in his quest for Steak n Shake Co. board
seats. Now, the dissident 30-year-old investor who models his approach after Warren Buffett’s is hoping to deliver on his
promise to turn around the Indianapolis-based chain, with or without the chairmanship he covets.
Mall getting go-karts and golf
The new owners of Lafayette Square Mall are plotting a $12-million redevelopment that would add a go-kart track and PC gaming area to the former Lazarus. New York-based…
Rendering for Mass Ave project
What do you think of the proposed replacement for a one-story, township-owned structure on Mass Ave? (Click for a larger version.) The $9 million plan, proposed by…
Cultural Trail wins national kudos
A couple of topics to discuss:
More praise for Trail
In its March newsletter, New York-based Project for Public Spaces named Indianapolis one of five “Great Cities” thanks to the…
Newsstand could be history
The owners of Delaware News Co., one of the city’s last remaining old-school newsstands, are getting out of the business after more than a dozen years. Phil…
Rug dealers’ going-out-of-business sales aren’t always what they seem
Phony going-out-of-business sales long have plagued Oriental rug retailing here and across the country, dealers say. The industry
is susceptible because Oriental rugs can cost thousands of dollars, and many consumers lack the expertise to judge whether
a rug’s quality matches its price.
Fabric, French food and fillings
Today’s collection of retail and restaurant nuggets are brought to you by the letter F.
Eastside institution closing
Circle Fabric, a staple at 30th Street and Shadeland Avenue for more…
What’s old is new again
On this nasty Friday, I’ve got a few updates on previous posts. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Here goes:
What was Flagstar thinking?
Flagstar Bank has added yet…
Circle Centre anchor struggles
The parent company of Circle Centre Mall anchor Carson Pirie Scott has joined a growing list of retailers struggling to stay afloat after disappointing fourth-quarter sales. About half…
Is mall’s sign a billboard?
The city waived several zoning requirements in allowing Simon Property Group to install a giant electronic sign at the entrance to Castleton Square Mall. The electronic portion of…
Latest real estate headlines
It’s a busy week for real estate news. Here are a few headlines:
Circuit City closes Clay Terrace store
Carmel’s high-end lifestyle center Clay Terrace has an empty big box. Virginia-based Circuit…
Retail woes continue with Cabela’s
Banking on the regional draw of outdoor retail giant Cabela’s, developers have been planning more than 100 acres of hotels, a water park, restaurants and other retail space for the southwest corner of…
Firm that sells sunglasses for large heads lands Wal-Mart deal
In March 2006, USA Today picked up a local newspaper’s profile of Indianapolis-based Fatheadz Inc., the company Rico Elmore
and two partners founded in 2005 to sell eyeglass frames for larger heads. That eventually led to the company’s big break:
A Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive read the article and ordered buyers to track down Fatheadz to make a deal.
Condo building nears completion
Workers are putting finishing touches on the exterior of a new 17-unit condo building dubbed 707 East North on the eastern edge of downtown. The $20 million…