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Lafayette Square amusement center closes

Scott Olson
March 29, 2012
Keywords
Arts & Entertainment, etc., Commercial Real Estate, Lafayette Square, Real Estate & Retail, Retail, Shopping Centers
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The closing of America’s Incredible Pizza Co. in Lafayette Square Mall on Indianapolis’ west side leaves another big hole to fill at a shopping center that has lost several key tenants in recent years.

The indoor amusement center that had occupied 75,000 square feet shut down Sunday, according to the mall’s information center.

Calls to the corporate headquarters in Springfield, Mo., were not returned.

The pizza firm opened at the mall in July 2010 in a space occupied the previous two years by the Xscape amusement center. Legal challenges from the family of a 5-year-old boy who fell off a teacup ride operated by Indianapolis-based Zoom Entertainment LLC, the amusement park’s owner, prompted Xscape’s closure.

The America’s Incredible Pizza chain has 10 locations, including one near Greenwood Park Mall. The Greenwood site, which is operated by a different franchisee than the one at Lafayette Square, remains open.

Lafayette Square was about 85-percent occupied before the closing, according to IBJ statistics.

New York-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. bought the 1.2 million-square-foot shopping center from Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. in December 2007.

Since then, anchors Macy’s, Sears and Steve & Barry’s have left the 44-year-old mall.

America’s Incredible Pizza Co. was the third-largest tenant in the mall behind a 141,000-square-foot Burlington Coat Factory and a 95,000-square-foot Shoppers World department store that opened in December 2008 on the first floor of a former JC Penney space.
 

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  • sad
    WendyMarch 30, 2012 11:19 AM
    I took my nieces here, and the staff was friendly, and the place always seemed to be busy enough when we would go- but half the appeal was being alone in the toddler zone, so maybe not all that surprising. I have an under/over of 5 years for Lafayette Square, which is sad, because it's always been 'my' mall, and I'd love for someone to come in and show Indy what they've been missing on the Westside.
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  • Lots to offer
    KatieMarch 30, 2012 9:38 AM
    Despite the negative stereotypes, the Lafayette Square area has lots to offer. There are fantastic ethnic restaurants throughout the area, and many small businesses that add to the fabric of our city such as Georgetown Market. It doesn't "scare" me to go there to eat or shop.

    Also, I think the store was Steve & Barry's, not Dave & Barry's.
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  • what?
    187crashMarch 29, 2012 3:40 PM
    Lucky Pierre, Im a 35 year old ex-marine, AND I'm whats known as a "killer kilo". At this very second, I wont even drive in that area, the only reason I will is to go to Nick's chili 2-3 times a year.

    Remember in all the movies where bad things happen, theres always a crowd of people with unwise advice that are vaporized or something..... cue pierre.
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  • haha?
    Lucky PierreMarch 29, 2012 1:38 PM
    Can we move on from the whole Lafayette "Scare" thing? It's so old and it really shows your intelligence, Amber. If you don't like the mall, don't shop there. And if you don't shop there, then this article really doesn't concern you. Go back to the couch.
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  • haha
    AmberMarch 29, 2012 12:57 PM
    its Lafayette Scare not lafayette sqaure.. get it right
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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