Bait shop bids farewell

May 1, 2009
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Fall Creek Bait & TackleBarbara Hoffman plans to close her bait shop along Fall Creek Parkway after 42 years in business. She has agreed to sell the property to the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks. The shop, known as Fall Creek Bait & Tackle, will be torn down to make way for a new dam. The last day will be sometime in the middle of May. Hoffman and her husband built the store on a narrow strip of land between the creek and Fall Creek Parkway near the Indiana State Fairgrounds after the old Schofield Mill burned in 1967. Her husband died of lymphoma 22 years ago, and her son was killed in a car wreck a few weeks later. She'll be 75 this year. Hoffman says business has always been good for the shop. "But things change," she said. "People grow old." She plans to retire to Brown County.
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  • AblerockMay 1, 2009 4:06 PM
    I love, and will miss, the giant stars. :-)
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  • Hank ReardenMay 1, 2009 5:58 PM
    Perfect spot for a liquor store!
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  • CreamCrimsonMay 2, 2009 10:45 AM
    Just drove by this minutes ago.

    First off, the Keystone Towers need to be DEMOLISHED ASAP. That is Indy's Cabrini Green and new Grafitti Canvas. Looks like we are asking for a Ghetto to radius around that place. You have a string of potential goldmine parcels if a massive Redevelopment were to take place.

    -The Bait Shop & White House (run down thing next to it that looks like I could push it over). Both should be demolished as well. You could put a string of either mix-use properties that incorporate or overlook the River or turn it into a Park with maybe some smaller parcels.

    -The Keystone Towers and the Lot across the street. THESE PARCELS WILL JUMPSTART THE KEYSTONE CORRIDOR REDEVELOPMENT. They have solid access, great location, have to be very undervalued and could be prime for a cohesive large style development.

    If they don't begin the transform this area, the bad areas will start spread to take this section over more. It's just minutes from the Fall Creek Place redevelopment. Great park access along the River. Close to downtown. Close to the NorthSide. And there hasn't been anything progressive to take place there in who knows how long.

    This is a key area. Somebody with some coin needs to get on this quick. At least Demo what needs to go for starters.
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  • AblerockMay 2, 2009 2:39 PM
    I like your ambitious thinking CreamCrimson, but why demolish Keystone Towers instead of rehabbing it? It could be incorporated into the type of development you're proposing with ease. The problem isn't the building, it's the landlord.
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  • MatthewMay 2, 2009 5:30 PM
    I've always thought something was fishy about that bait shop. I drive by
    it on my way to, and from work, and rarely, if ever, have seen a patron there
    (in 6 years!). How much bait does a person have to sell to pay a mortgage
    on a building. The woman that owns it sounds like she's faced some
    adversity and certainly deserves to retire in a lovely brown county cottage.
    Fingers crossed that the white house just south of this business goes as well.
    This entire stretch of road, from 38th, north to 71st is an eyesore and
    a poor representation to those entering Indianapolis through this corridor.
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  • IvoMay 3, 2009 4:59 PM
    Thanks for the fond memories Barbara. Still treasure childhood memories of going fishing with my father and stopping by the bait and tackle to stock up.
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  • JoshMay 6, 2009 2:27 PM
    I really wonder what the dam will be like.
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  • Former N.E.side Res.May 9, 2009 8:41 AM
    I really don't think that Binford is bad at all. There are some nice new developments and the trees lining the road (highway?) are very appealing.

    The Keystone Towers are a horrible eyesore. And as for using the Keystone Towers to revitalize the area, I believe that's what it was originally built for. As far as I can discern, it's never fulfilled that mission (and now I'd say it's actively working against it :)).

    Sad to see the bait shop go. I always wondered where people fished. I don't think I'd touch anything that came out of the White River with a 10 foot pole.
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  • rundown
    matthewApril 19, 2010 9:55 AM
    Another place is that Speedway Industrial Park on W 10th. The city could think about demolishing that too
    or redeveloping it. Makes the area look trashy.
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