Stir Crazy closes restaurants in Castleton, Greenwood

January 23, 2013
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Stir Crazy logoThe Chicago-based parent company of the Stir Crazy restaurant chain has closed its locations at Castleton Square and Greenwood Park malls. Flat Out Crazy Restaurant Group, which also owns the Flat Top Grill concept, continues to operate 11 Stir Crazy locations in seven states, but the restaurants in central Indiana underperformed expectations, said Kim Wedster, the chain's office manager. In recent weeks, the chain also closed restaurants in Illinois and Minnesota. The Asian stir-fry restaurants opened locally more than four years ago in lifestyle expansions that replaced former L.S. Ayres department stores at the stalwart shopping malls. Both malls are owned by Simon Property Group Inc. The restaurants closed for good on Tuesday in a surprise to employees and patrons. The parent company has no plans to try out its other concepts in the space, Wedster said. In Greenwood, the restaurant joined the bookstore Barnes & Noble and restaurants BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse and Cheesecake Factory. Fellow tenants at the lifestyle wing of Castleton Square include H&M, Forever 21, an AMC theater and the restaurant Houlihan's.

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  • Bummer...
    MarkJanuary 23, 2013 5:05 PM
    I probably stopped there for dinner once every two months or so. Enjoyed the food. Sorry to see them go.
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  • Too bad
    YikesJanuary 23, 2013 5:43 PM
    I really enjoyed the food there. Too bad for those who lost their jobs.
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  • NO SURPRISE
    SteveJanuary 23, 2013 5:47 PM
    I'm sorry to see the employees lose their jobs, but not surprised that they closed. I tried them once, that was enough for me.
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  • Need to be Special
    PJJanuary 23, 2013 6:40 PM
    Restaurants need to be special to draw me in. i tried Stir Crazy when it opened and was not impressed. I chose to spend my money elsewhere, like PF Changs.
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  • Don't leave!!!!
    cat crazyJanuary 23, 2013 10:40 PM
    Noooooo! I loved that place. :( It always seemed crowded on the weekends. Maybe they will change their minds and put a flattop grill there :)
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  • special?
    AmyJanuary 23, 2013 10:51 PM
    How is another chain such as PF Chang's any more special than a chain like Stir Crazy? If you want to spend your money at an authentic Asian restaurant, there are many local ones in the city and metro area...down with chains!
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    • Re: Amy
      PJJanuary 24, 2013 8:34 AM
      Amy, a business does not need to be completely independent to be special. Please, name me another high end chinese option here in Indy aside from PF Changs? Stir Crazy tried, but was not better than Changs. If there is one, I will certainly give it a try. And, you say, "Down With Chains", but many of our popular home grown restaurants are chains now. E.I. Yats, Naked Tchopsticks (although I'm not a fan of them either), Everything by Martha Hover (Patachou, Petite Chou, Napalese). Other Indiana grown chains, Steak N Shake, Kilroy's, Scotty's. Being a chain is not a sign of selling out, it's a sign of success, knowing how to cook and how to run a business; the dual skill set which is often not present.
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      • Manager
        Jerry PhairJanuary 24, 2013 9:34 AM
        Good Food, Good atmosphere. I would eat there once a month. Poor business practice to nothify the employees the day of closing. I'm sure there were some employees who relied on this income to take care of their family. Selfish Business Practice!
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      • Gift Certificate
        Barbara ParkerJanuary 24, 2013 9:53 AM
        So, I wonder what happens to the gift certificate I just bought for my son as a gift?? He LOVED that place!!
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      • Great, independent Chinese
        Indy GuyJanuary 24, 2013 10:24 AM
        Hey PJ... give Tiger Lily a try, near 86th & Ditch. I think they're really good, and is a great, local alternative to PF Changs.
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      • Tiger Lily cont.
        Indy GuyJanuary 24, 2013 10:31 AM
        And here's an IBJ review also: http://www.ibj.com/dining-sauce-is-boss-at-new-northsider-tiger-lily/PARAMS/article/27281
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      • Once was enough....
        KAKJanuary 24, 2013 11:17 AM
        Having dined at the Stir Crazy location outside of Peoria, IL several times, I was excited when the locations opened here. Tried to the one at the Greenwood mall once and never went back. Food was only okay. Service was mediocre. One person in our party actually ended up ill as a result of eating there. Not surprising that both locations have closed.
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      • KFC Fishers
        CARZJanuary 24, 2013 11:20 AM
        The KFC in Fishers on 116th has finally closed. Does anyone know what is going in that location?
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      • Service was poor
        KyleJanuary 24, 2013 11:21 AM
        Went there once, it was empty and service was terrible. Never went back. Put a Pei Wei there!
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      • gift card from christmas
        bretJanuary 24, 2013 11:21 AM
        How do we get our money back? I literally bought a $100 promo gift card from them less than one month ago- never mentioned a single word about closing.
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        • gift certificate
          bretJanuary 24, 2013 11:25 AM
          What is Kim Wedster phone and email? You must have it from the interview. Thanks.
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        • Company info
          TimJanuary 24, 2013 11:30 AM
          The name of the parent company is listed in the article. The website is http://www.flatoutcrazy.com/ There is a phone number listed so your best bet would probably be to start of there to seek a refund.
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        • Good local food
          Thai GuyJanuary 24, 2013 11:31 AM
          Try Thai Spice on County Line Road just across from the Greenwood Park Mall. This a small family business that attracts a loyal following on the southside. Prices are great---food is awesome. My mouth is watering just thinking about the Kao Padd (fried rice).
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        • Poor Service
          R.January 24, 2013 11:36 AM
          Under performance was surely due to poor service and not to food quality. On a consistent basis, service staff was slow and inattentive to customers. Customers have too many options, restaurants cannot afford to lose business based on poor service. It is a problem that plaques the industry. When will ownership and management of any restaurant realize this?
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        • Bad\Slow service
          robJanuary 24, 2013 11:38 AM
          Went to the Castleton location 5 times. the service was slow every time. Our office has not been back since. Good riddance.
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        • Thai Spice
          IndybrettJanuary 24, 2013 11:42 AM
          I'll 2nd the Thai Spice recommendation. Best Thai food I've had anywhere.
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        • Stir Crazy
          JoyceJanuary 24, 2013 12:13 PM
          Well, the last time I was there on a Tuesday night, we had the place to ourselves. Love their pot stickers. PJ, my favorite is Mark Pi's China Gate in Greenwood. I worry about them closing, too. The food is very good, but there usually aren't many diners.
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        • Agree with Jerry
          FishersMomJanuary 24, 2013 1:04 PM
          I agree with Jerry that it was terrible to tell employees the same day of closing. We were there to get carry out and when the waiter told me they had just been told they were closing that day I felt awful for everyone. I am sure the staff needs these jobs and I hope all if them can find another one.
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        • Too Bad
          DanJanuary 24, 2013 1:09 PM
          Sorry to see them go. Stir Crazy was on our rotation of regular "let's go out tonight" restaurants in Castleton. Did notice a significant falling-off in volume of patrons and quality of food & service. Not suprised.
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        • No one knew it was coming
          ex stir crazy employeeJanuary 24, 2013 4:08 PM
          This company has made some horrible moves in the past year. I was there since they opened in the city and things ran fairly smoothly, business was good...until the corporation brought in Charlie Candeles to run things. He ran the stores into the ground in the past year he was there until he was ousted. He ruined the morale there and changed things, making the experience less pleasant to the customers. When he started making moves to change the stores to the way he wanted it, sales plummeted, food costs skyrocketed, and employees bailed. At one point, 10 of the locations were without any general managers because they couldn't work with him because of his questionable moves. After he was let go, not much improved. Stores in Georgia, Texas, and in the Mall of America closed. Managers could never get any information from corporate. Corporate would fail at paying bills, causing phone lines to go dead, or the company that ran our computer systems refusing to repair our systems because corporate owed them too much money. To Bret, who is worried about the gift cards. I am so sorry, it was not anyone at the locations' doing. No one knew this was coming. None of the locations did. Corporate would just show up in the middle of the day at these locations and just shut them down. At some locations, it was shut down in the middle of a lunch rush, leaving employees and customers in a bind. This company is a sinking ship. They have no clue how to run their businesses properly and in Indianapolis, over 100 people are now without jobs, without notice because of this
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        • re: PJ
          UncleTomCobleyJanuary 24, 2013 5:37 PM
          Try Shanghai Lil or Sichuan for good, non chain Chinese food. Much better and more authentic than Changs.
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          • Former Employees Enraged
            KaylaJanuary 24, 2013 6:27 PM
            I am a now former employee of Stir Crazy Greenwood and I find it extremely unprofessional and frustrated at the way Flat Top handled the closing of these restaurants. I show up for work and there is a corporate employee telling me that I'm out of a job! 58 employees of the Greenwood store are jobless without notice. Not to mention many people cannot get their checks... My manager was just as shocked as his employees. Being a college student trying to make rent what do they expect people to do?? What about those who have childrento support? It was a complete coward out this company took that should be known to the public. If woukd have been understandable if there was notice given so the employees could find other jobs..Corporate greed at its finest. I'm sure the owners and CEOs are sleeping comfortably in their expensive mansions while some of us are wondering how.we are going to pay the bills!
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          • Local High-End Chinese
            Jessica in NoblesvilleJanuary 24, 2013 9:31 PM
            Shanghai Lil is right across the street from the Fashion Mall's PF Changs, is more authentic, just as nice if not more so, and far more local than PF Changs.
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          • Options
            LindaJanuary 24, 2013 9:59 PM
            Shanghai Lil's is a great place to dine. Wonderful atmosphere and great food
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          • gift certificates
            pmooreJanuary 25, 2013 8:25 AM
            Yes, I too bought gift certificates 2 days prior to Christmas as gifts for family. Now they have gift cards that are of no use to them. What if anything, is corporate planning to do about this matter? Very disappointed!!!!
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          • Kiddie stuff, IMO
            SassafrasJanuary 25, 2013 11:04 AM
            I never understood the appeal of the build-your-own-stir fry concept; always seemed like a fad that would eventually run its course. People used to rave about Flat Top Grill in Chicago--went there twice and was completely unimpressed. For the price point of Stir Crazy, I'd like to think I'm eating something that at least puts some demands upon the chef. But you could easily teach a 10-year-old how to create a perfectly good stir fry.
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          • That is TERRIBLE!!!
            CarlFebruary 10, 2013 6:07 PM
            I enjoyed the food and great service. I really feel bad for the patrons and REALLY feal bad for their staff. What a loss. I visited the Greenwood store about once a week.
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          • Stir Crazy
            Jim Van RooyMarch 26, 2013 1:41 PM
            I loved going there and enjoyed picking out my own vegetables, sauce, etc. to go along with the Tow Fu.
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          • Closed down babe!
            Chris OliverApril 2, 2013 10:21 AM
            Closed!
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          • working on resturant
            cory blackburnApril 23, 2013 2:29 PM
            I am currently trying to get a resturant opened up. it wont be your typical one either. I will be as if you are eating in the comforts of your own home. if this sounds appeling to anyone let me know. if anyone know any connections to help me get started please contact me 3174761932. would love to get everyones insite on weather it would be something you guys may stop in and eat at on day
            Reply to CommentFlag Comment
          • Miss Stir Crazy
            Donna WintersApril 24, 2013 2:37 PM
            Me and my 91 year old mother really miss Stir Crazy. We made the one hour trip to Greenwood at least once a week or so, And that was my go-to place whenever I wanted to take family that lives up that way out to eat. ��
            Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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