Southport Plaza replaces Borders, Linens n Things

November 16, 2012
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Southport PlazaTwo new anchor tenants are taking a total of 58,000 square feet in Southport Plaza at U.S. 31 and Shelby Street on the south side, bringing the shopping center to full occupancy for the first time in more than four years. Shoe Carnival plans to take over the 25,000-square-foot former home of Borders, and Kittle's Home Furnishings plans to open one of its Rooms Express stores in the 33,000-square-foot former home of Linens n Things. Borders closed in 2011, and Linens closed in 2008. Rooms Express is relocating from a smaller location in Southport Commons at Interstate 65 and Southport Road. That space will be converted to another Kittle's concept. Shoe Carnival is moving from a freestanding 12,000-square-foot store in front of the Greenwood Place shopping center across Shelby Street. The Southport Plaza center is owned by Nationwide Insurance.

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  • What's going into the original buildings?
    KathyNovember 16, 2012 11:34 AM
    I'm really glad something is going into these empty stores. Any ideal what will be going into the original shoe carnival and Rooms Express buildings?
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  • Disappointed
    RyanNovember 16, 2012 1:25 PM
    I would have loved to have seen a Traders Joe's, Whole Foods or Fresh Market go into the space. The Southside is lacking in the Grocery arena besides Kroger and Marsh and a couple small specialty food stores. The location seemed like it would have done well for Trader Joe's.
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    • DISAPPOINTED
      INDYSOUTHNovember 16, 2012 9:37 PM
      I AGREE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT PLACE FOR TRADER JOES. REALLY SEE THEM GOING CLOSER TO THE CENTER GROVE AREA ON 135 WHEN THEY DO COME SOUTH.
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    • Trader Joes?
      BarkNovember 18, 2012 8:43 AM
      Everybody seems to think that upscale groceries should be built in their neighborhoods, whether or not their neighborhoods are upscale.
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    • TJs and Whole Foods
      SassafrasNovember 19, 2012 8:56 AM
      Ryan, this is no means a slight on the southside, but the area simply lacks the density of college graduates necessary to attract those type of stores. Whole Foods in particular makes decisions based on that factor, because their brand is highly sensitive to location. US 31 and Southport is just too middle class and not upper middle class enough. If another Trader Joe's or Whole Foods comes to the area, it might (very slim chance) locate closer to Center Grove where there are more college grads...but my guess is downtown would be the next best option.
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      • Trader Joe's
        KathyNovember 19, 2012 12:41 PM
        I'm from the southside and I could care less about Whole Foods coming. But Trader Joe's would be great and it is not upper class, It is very affordable. More affordable than Kroger or Marsh. But go look at the Kroger or Marsh parking lots and tell me there's enough not density to put in a Trader Joes down here. Besides where do you think the residents of Center Grove shop...at Greenwood Mall, so the 31, County Line area would be a great location to put the very affordable and very wonderful Trader Joes. Believe me it would do well. As far as it going Trader Joes going in at the old Borders or Linen and Things, I wouldn't think they would want to compete with the Walmart there. I've heard that when the church in the strip mall at Madison and County Line lease is up, that area will be rebuilt. I heard that they are going to be putting in the same type of buildings that are on Fry Rd where the Orange Leaf is. I think that could be a good place for Trader Joes to come.
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      • Trader Joe's
        KathyNovember 19, 2012 1:13 PM
        Sassafras....College kids aren't the only ones that like to shop at Trader Joes. Everyone I know loves Trader Joes. I'm a grandmother and it would be the only place I would grocery shop if it was down here. Besides there is University of Indianpolis down this way and further down there is Franklin College.
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      • LOL...
        MarshallNovember 20, 2012 9:22 AM
        ...at the comment implying Trader Joe's is too upper class for the south side. When I lived in Los Angeles, Trader Joe's was more an "everyman" grocery option. They're not terribly expensive and I suppose anyone with an interest in eating healthier would be attracted to them.
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      • Trader Joes
        ShaneNovember 20, 2012 4:16 PM
        Sassafras is correct, most of the specialty grocery stores use the same types of metrics income & education level. You have to have that perfect mix. I am surprised that a Fresh Market or something like that hasn't tried to build in that area. I agree though that as downtown grows, the chances of a Trader Joe's is more likely to be located there since the south side is closer to downtown vs the extreme north side.
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      • Off Subject But Interesting
        BradNovember 26, 2012 1:20 PM
        Hilarious Convo... FYI: Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi... And if you look at many of their products they are usually made in the same factory. Hmmmmm... I guess us "Northside" well-to-doers are not so college educated as many might think.
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      • Aldi
        ShaneNovember 26, 2012 2:18 PM
        Brad, Aldi is owned by two brothers which own two separate companies under the same name. The Western European company (Aldi Sud) owns Aldi in North America along with Aldi in all of Western Europe. Aldi Nord owns Trader Joes and Aldi in Eastern European countries. They have been known to team up from time to time with the occasional distributor, but for the most part, the vast majority of the products offered in Aldi North America and Trader Joe's are not similar.
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        • I stand Enlightened
          BradNovember 26, 2012 4:32 PM
          Noted... Could we agree - from a high level perspective that is. Most of our "food" comes from the same concerns; simply packaged and labelled differently. Correct?
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        • The Impact of Henderson
          fkgazaNovember 29, 2012 5:13 PM
          Greenwood has received over $20M per year in TIF money for over a decade (that is Quarteb Billion folks). No development resulted--we got is a Walmart. That causes demographics to change. Dont think Trader Joes and similar dont notice. Heck, look at the Greenwood Mall---in 1998 the City removed the flower beds because the Parks Dept didnt want to water them. Forest Gump said it best.
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        • Now...
          Jim BrownNovember 30, 2012 11:00 AM
          Now, if only my boyfriend shopping center, Southern Plaza (located at 465 and U.S. 31), could only get another anchor or two, as well! I have fond memories of working as a teen in the Baskin-Robbins store there. Unfortunately, it still seems a shadow of its former self in the 1960s and '70s.
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          • Boyhood
            Jim BrownNovember 30, 2012 11:02 AM
            I meant to say "boyhood" shopping center...
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          • Trader Joe's
            Melanie SutherlinDecember 19, 2012 10:33 PM
            To Sassasfras, wow, what an insult. I live in or close to that area for over 20 years. I do not have a college education, however, that has nothing to do with my shopping habits or my intelligence. I buy mostly organic food and local meats. I've been driving to the Trader Joe's on the northside to shop for years. Many of my middle class friends do the same. I would love to have it so centrally located on the southside.
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