IBJ Podcast: The owner of Windsor Jewelry talks about surviving the riots and pandemic
Plus, hear from Mayor Joe Hogsett, who spoke to IBJ’s editorial board last month about some of the very problems Bires is concerned about for downtown.
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Target joins Walmart in closing on Thanksgiving, ending Black Friday kickoff
The move, announced Monday, come as retailers are rethinking Black Friday in-store bargain shopping as they try to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has seen a resurgence in a slew of states.
Women’s apparel giant that includes Ann Taylor files for bankruptcy
The company says it intends to close all of its Catherines stores, a “significant number” of Justice stores and a select number of Ann Taylor, Loft, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey stores.
David’s Tea closes Fashion Mall store, exits U.S. market
The struggling Canada-based retail chain is closing all 42 of its stores in the United States as it restructures its finances.
Customers used to have nearly endless options. Then came COVID-19.
Offering less inventory—a practice that goes against years of steadily expanded assortments of sizes and styles—is in many cases a necessity, not a choice. Even before the pandemic, supply chains were shifting due to the tariff war between the U.S. and China. Now, the global pandemic adds another layer of complexity as new manufacturing centers such as Bangladesh and parts of Central America become virus hot spots as well.
Barnes & Noble uses COVID-19 shutdown to refresh stores
It’s part of a chain-wide move to give store managers more autonomy. Also this week: Apocalypse Burger, Enterprise Car Sales, and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.
Kroger, Kohl’s join Walmart on growing list of retailers to require face coverings
The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, on Wednesday said it is “encouraging all retailers to adopt a nationwide policy that requires customers to wear face coverings or masks to protect the health and well-being of customers, associates and partners during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Walmart to require all U.S. customers to wear masks
Walmart’s decision to mandate masks follows similar moves by Costco, Starbucks and Best Buy.
Downtown firms in no rush to get workers back to office
It could be months, or longer, before downtown bustles again with the office workers who help restaurants and other retailers thrive. And the wait might be a death knell for some of those retailers.
Sur La Table files for bankruptcy, to close dozens of stores
Kitchen goods retailer Sur La Table says it has reached a “stalking horse” agreement with New York-based Fortress Investment Group for a possible sale.
Jeans retailer Lucky files for bankruptcy, with Simon-affiliated group bidding to buy company
Lucky said it plans to close 13 stores and could shutter more during the bankruptcy process.
GNC to close at least one Indianapolis store, possibly as many as six
Vitamin and nutrition chain GNC Holdings on Wednesday identified four Indiana stores that will permanently close and seven others that could close as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.
Noblesville game shop set to open store on Mass Ave in July
It will be the second location for Moonshot Games, which opened its Noblesville location in 2018. The company says business is booming despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mass Ave Toys closes after 14-year run
The owner, who has operated toy stores for more than 40 years, said she closed the shop so she could retire.
5 ways the pandemic is changing fashion and beauty trends
Sales of eye makeup are on the rise as Americans look for ways to express themselves behind face masks while staying six feet apart.
Indianapolis-area Popeyes restaurants under new ownership
The new franchisee for the 16 Popeyes locations is Cincinnati-based Gilligan Co., which operates convenience stores and quick-service restaurants including Subway and Dunkin Donuts.
Retail tenants’ gamesmanship stymies efforts to collect rent
Retail landlords received quite a jolt when they discovered that some of the most lustrous names in retail want pandemic-related rent concessions like those being offered to struggling tenants.
IBJ Podcast: Should the city help pay for damage done to businesses downtown?
Host Mason King talks with Stadium Village Business Association President Erica Wells and Mayor Joe Hogsett’s chief of staff, Thomas Cook, about how the city can help downtown and downtown businesses rebuild after the one-two punch of coronavirus and riots.
Memory Bank: Selling bikes downtown in 1896
H.T. Hearsey Bicycles store was on Pennsylvania Street, between New York and Ohio streets, when this photo was taken in 1896.
Erica Wells: We need proactive leadership, rather than reactive decisions
Decisions are impossible to make when leadership fails to listen to the community; fails to communicate a comprehensive plan; and falls into a reactive, not proactive, stance on protecting our community.