Late lunch: Dining shakeup

May 17, 2007
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Here are some restaurant nuggets, along with a chance to win free food:
  • The Jimmy Johns on Pennsylvania Street downtown has closed. The chain has another restaurant about a block away, at Meridian and Washington streets.
  • Hoaglin Fine Catering plans to open a new restaurant along the canal at the Indiana History Center. The restaurant, Hoaglin To Go on Stardust Terrace, will open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting in late June.
  • India Garden has agreed to reopen next door to the new BARcelona Tapas restaurant slated for the corner of Delaware and Ohio streets. India Garden had been on Illinois Street.
  • And finally, Hardee's has added its Red Burrito brand to several local restaurants, including on Allisonville Road, Southport Road and High School Road in Indianapolis and in Lebanon.
    • Got a restaurant tip? Post it as a comment. The first two tips win coupons for a free burrito and taco at Red Burrito. Ole!
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    • HarrietFlyMay 17, 2007 1:38 PM
      I do not understand how there are two restaurants going in on the corner of Delaware and Ohio. There are better locations available downtown. Is there a project going on that isn't on the drawing board?

      Am I off base here? I would gladly retract my statement.
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    • BradshawMay 17, 2007 1:49 PM
      My wife informs me that there's a new restaurant open for business in Broad Ripple along the Canal. It's in the same building as The Toggery. I believe the cuisine is Italian and it features outdoor seating.
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    • HarrietFlyMay 17, 2007 1:55 PM
      There is because I was at the Toggery over the weekend, I think they just opened.
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    • CorrNDMay 17, 2007 2:42 PM
      HarrietFly -- The best, currently empty location I can think of is 757 Mass Ave. I haven't been past there in about a month but it seems like the ground-floor spaces have been almost-done-but-not-quite for months and months. Anybody know what's going on there?

      But actually in the core of downtown, the only places I can think of are the soon-to-be-vacated Smokey Bones and the Illinois Building, which the owners seemingly have no interest in leasing. What other locations are people aware of?

      Really, I think having Barcelona and India Garden go in at Delaware and Ohio at almost the same time will be mutually beneficial. They're both likely to be places that people will seek out rather than stumble upon, so the lack of heavy foot traffic shouldn't hurt too much.
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    • CoryMay 17, 2007 2:56 PM
      Good points, CorrND. I think the new condo building 3 Mass at the tip of Mass Ave should help. And I'd guess the restaurants are getting pretty competitive rent rates, which doesn't hurt either.
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    • MikeMay 17, 2007 9:40 PM
      I've been looking for information on what will happen to TGIF's where the new convention hotel is going to locate. I would hate to see them leave Downtown all together. I think moving to the Smokey bones location would work. May add a different element of nightlife in that area. Don't think the India Garden spot is large enough, but the end of the building on Market and Illinois behind the Conrad across from TJMaxx is large enough and would be a great location.
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    • CorrNDMay 17, 2007 11:23 PM
      Mike -- I think you exactly described the Illinois Building. Apparently the owners aren't really interested in leasing the building right now. The last I heard, there was talk about tearing the building down and building taller on that site. That lead to the building being added to the list of endangered Hoosier landmarks last year. Complicating the issue is the fact that the land under the building is separately owned from the building and is carved up into a bunch of little pieces that are owned by different parties. I think anyone looking to tear that building down and build something else faces an outrageous uphill battle on many fronts.
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    • JoeMay 18, 2007 8:20 AM
      I'm surprised the two Jimmy John's lasted this long within a block. I mean, it's good, but it's not *that* good.
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    • Kevin GMay 18, 2007 9:28 AM
      Mike — I think you exactly described the Illinois Building. Apparently the owners aren’t really interested in leasing the building right now. The last I heard, there was talk about tearing the building down and building taller on that site.
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    • RipplerMay 18, 2007 9:45 AM
      The new restaurant in Broad Ripple is the Canal Bistro. There have completely redone the inside of place and added outdoor seating. The food is Mediterranean and I believe it opened over the weekend.
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    • CoryWMay 18, 2007 9:58 AM
      I think that something will need to be done to keep the loiters at bay for the corner of Ohio and Delaware Streets. When the Burger King was there, it was always a hassel because youwere constantly asked for money. I can't imagine dinning out on that sidewalk and having to deal with that.
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    • FrankS.May 18, 2007 12:46 PM
      One wonders how many more restaurants can be dreamed up for downtown and what their overall life expectancies might be. And CoryW's right about the panhandling annoyance. Downtown, in my opinion, would be better off w/ a few reasonably priced dry cleaners, a couple of shoe repair shops and less restrictive on-street parking; Geez, the place is getting to be like Cinti, worth your life to find a spot on the street that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
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    • AlexQMay 22, 2007 12:43 PM
      I received an email today informing me that the Buffalo Wild Wings location downtown on Maryland is closing Sunday (5/27). Did I miss that somewhere on this blog?
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    • CoryMay 22, 2007 1:13 PM
      AlexQ: My understanding is that yes, BWW will close. The same owners plan to reopen the joint with a new menu and a new name, Bada Boomz.
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