Restaurateur pulling plug on Hard Rock Cafe downtown
When the location opened in 1999, Hard Rock was still considered a fashionable brand and a good get for a downtown in the midst of a renaissance powered in part by Circle Centre mall.
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Drowning in debt, FullBeauty Brands to file Chapter 11
The online retailer of plus-size women’s apparel with a deep history in Indianapolis and nearly half its workers here is attempting to extricate itself from a debt load of $1.3 billion.
Airport wants to add FAO Schwarz, MAC cosmetics, others to retail lineup
Airport officials have reached lease agreements covering 19 retailers, the first wave of deals negotiated as part of the airport’s concessions refresh program. The airport authority’s board is set to vote on the contracts Friday.
Former Elbow Room site downtown to house two restaurants
A longtime local chef and his wife plan to open a fast-casual spot for breakfast and lunch, as well as a dinner restaurant. The iconic flatiron building also will include space for private events.
Sears to survive after chairman prevails in bankruptcy auction
With a bid of more than $5 billion, Eddie Lampert has won a bankruptcy auction for Sears with a plan that will keep the retailer in business and seek to save tens of thousands of jobs.
Gymboree expected to declare bankruptcy, close at least 6 Indy-area stores
This would be the second bankruptcy for the children’s clothing retailer in less than two years, but the chances for survival look very slim.
U.S. restaurant prices experience largest jump since 2011
Full-service restaurants, facing higher labor and food costs, raised prices by the largest amount in more than seven years in December, a Labor Department report released Friday shows.
Weak holiday sales at department stores catch many off guard
Shares in Macy’s and Kohl’s plunged Thursday after they reported weaker-than-expected holiday results. Target, however, had a jolly Christmas season.
Needler’s Fresh Market to close Indianapolis store
Fresh Encounter Inc. purchased 15 former Marsh Supermarkets locations in 2017 and renamed all but one of them Needler’s Fresh Market. Now, the Geist location is closing for good.
Vacant Shelby Street property getting makeover
A St. Vincent de Paul store and coffee shop will occupy the space. Also this week: Bovaconti Coffee, My Sugar Pie, Simply Divine Cupcakes and Starbucks.
Goody’s stores to be replaced by Gordmans in six central Indiana cities
Stage Stores Inc., a Houston-based retailer that operates nearly 800 stores nationwide, plans to close six Goody’s stores in central Indiana next month and replace them with Gordmans stores in March.
Sears gets another reprieve from liquidation
Sears received another possible lifeline Tuesday when the company's chairman and largest shareholder promised to line up the necessary financing to keep the struggling department store chain afloat.
Kroger, Microsoft team up to create futuristic grocery store
Kroger, America’s biggest supermarket chain, has remodeled two stores to test out the new features, which include “digital shelves” that can show ads and change prices on the fly along with a network of sensors that keep track of products and help speed shoppers through the aisles.
Macy’s store in Indianapolis set for closure
Macy’s plans to close its store at Glendale Town Center, leaving the 60-year-old Indianapolis shopping center without its largest and oldest anchor.
Crispy Bird fried-chicken joint by Patachou closing after departure of founding team
Instead of trying to continue operating the Meridian-Kessler eatery, Patachou leaders say the space is needed to temporarily house the operations of the company’s fast-growing, not-for-profit foundation.
Ad agency to open cafe, lounge in lobby of Fountain Square office
The lobby of the MilesHerndon ad agency in the historic Woessner Building will open next month as Gavel, a cafe and lounge that will offer coffee, beer, wine, cocktails and a limited food menu.
Downtown taco restaurant closes after 13 months
The 7,500-square-foot restaurant and bar, which opened at the northeast corner of South Meridian and Georgia streets in November 2017, was the first location outside of Chicago for Broken English Taco Pub.
Beauty Brands closing 25 stores, including three in Indianapolis area
The regional chain of salon and spa superstores plans to close all but one of its locations in the Indianapolis area as part of a major corporate restructuring.
Boss Battle Games moving to Castleton
The retro game center is vacating its space in Washington Square mall. Also this week: Performance Bicycle, Pia Urban Cafe and 10 Johnson Avenue.
American chain restaurants facing tougher conditions in 2019
After facing stagnant sales and weak customer traffic in 2018, many U.S. restaurant chains will encounter more headwinds next year, including rising food and wage costs.