Indy restaurant roundup: Ripple Inn, Sinking Ship, Longhorn Steakhouse

July 21, 2010
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Broad Ripple Steakhouse buildingA new restaurant concept is poised to take the former home of Broad Ripple Steakhouse. Local investors Troy Smith and Jason Tipton of Fresh Basics LLC plan to open The Ripple Inn, named for the hotel that once occupied the building at 929 E. Westfield Boulevard, in the next two to three months. It's their first restaurant in Indianapolis, and will feature steak and seafood entrees with a modern twist, along with lower priced offerings including a Ripple Burger and crabcake sandwiches. The deal was brokered by Brian Epstein of Urban Space Commercial.

In other restaurant news:

  • The Sinking Ship, a new restaurant and bar, is under construction in the former home of Steck Plumbing at 4923 N. College Ave. The Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association is hosting a meeting at 7:30 p.m. July 27 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church so neighbors can learn more about plans for the lunch, dinner and drinks spot. The registered agent for the new restaurant is Andrew Hamaker.
  • Longhorn Steakhouse is opening a new restaurant in front of Castleton Square Mall in a former Smokey Bones location. The Darden Restaurants concept has locations along West 86th Street, East Washington Street and at I-65 and Southport Road, along with restaurants in Avon and Carmel. The new location is slated to open in November.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings plans to open in the former home of a dance studio in Brownsburg. The restaurant is taking 6,400 square feet at 1551 N. Green St., in the same center as Boulder Creek Dining Company and Pizza King. The chain has 14 Indianapolis-area locations.
  • Mexico City Grill is taking 5,600 square feet in Fishers. The restaurant already is under construction in a Kite Realty shopping center anchored by Marsh at 116th Street and Allisonville Road. The restaurant has a location on the south side, at Emerson Avenue and Stop 11 Road.
  • Nites Restaurant and Bar is proposed for a strip center across County Line Road from Greenwood Park Mall. The 1,500-square-foot restaurant at 2308 E. County Line Road is owned by Spice Restaurant Group LLC.
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  • 3 New Restaurants
    MainstreetJuly 21, 2010 11:00 AM
    Cory, can you use your connections and tell us who the 3 new restaurants are going to be in Keystone Construction's new multiuse project in Carmel? (4 story - 2 level undgerground parking}
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  • El Torito Grill
    MallgrilJuly 21, 2010 1:49 PM
    Whats the story with El Torito at Keystone Mall?
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    • Geist Area Vineyard
      Wine ConnoisseurJuly 21, 2010 1:50 PM
      Cory, can you also use your connections to see what's going on on Carrol Road in Geist? Looks like a vineyard going in. It has been flying up over the past few days. Thanks!!
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • El Torito Location
      ZachJuly 21, 2010 2:32 PM
      @Mallgril A Darden concept called Seasons 52 is going into the old El Torito location.

      http://www.seasons52.com/NRO/default.asp
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    • geist vineyard
      ndeeanuhJuly 21, 2010 5:00 PM
      I believe one of the other recent threads contains info on this...
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • I hope The Ripple Inn
      JennyJuly 21, 2010 10:30 PM
      pays their taxes unlike the previous owner.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • Chatham Yea/MexicoCity No
      RichJuly 21, 2010 11:46 PM
      Mexico City Grill is going to have a tough time...Two new Mexican joints just opened and joined an already saturated market.


      On a positive note the new Chatham Tap opened in Fishers and was fantastic..the pear, gorgonzola, rasher bacon sandwich was great!
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • Seasons 52
      CoryJuly 22, 2010 11:38 AM
      Here's the post on Seasons 52:

      http://www.ibj.com/blog/article?articleId=20515

      P.S. I think some of you might be overestimating my connections!
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • Competition in the 'Burg
      DavidJuly 22, 2010 2:02 PM
      It'll be interesting to see if Wings Etc. can withstand the challenge from Buffalo Wild Wings in Brownsburg. I'm hear Wings Etc. may be closing. Not good.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • Wings etc
      DexterJuly 22, 2010 4:26 PM
      Wings etc in Brownsburg is absolutely horrible. I can't wait for BW3s and the chance to have decent wings nearby. I have no doubt that BW3s will do great in this location, even with other restaurants like Boulder Creek and Pizza King in the same location. Brownsburg needs more restaurants!
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • steck plumbing
      davidJuly 23, 2010 9:48 PM
      So is this "the sinking ship" in the old steck plumbing building going to renovate that building, I hope they do, as its brought the whole corner intersection down. I think this could be good for the neighborhood!
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • @David
      WilliamJuly 27, 2010 11:19 AM
      I think you are confusing the Steck Plumbing Building with the abomination that is the "Uptown" commercial project across the street. That corner has had a sign announcing plans for some live-work space for years! Apparently the gentlemen who are driving the project are presenting to MKNA this evening and everyone in our neighborhood should show up to hear what they have to say! The time for that corner has come. I hope these guys can get it done.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • Wings in Brownsburg NOT closing
      DaveJuly 30, 2010 11:36 AM
      Don't know where you heard that rumor, but it's totally untrue. In fact, the owner there has brought in a new senior manager (three weeks ago) who is upping their game big time. I know the guy he brought in--prior management with Applebee's, Friday's and O'Charley's. Might be worth another try.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • Great Work!
        PartyvilleJuly 30, 2010 1:05 PM
        Cory, you do a stand up job. Keep partying!
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • Wings in Brownsburg
        DexterJuly 30, 2010 1:53 PM
        Dave,

        The owner should have addressed the problems before BW3s came to town. If you talk to him though, the sauce needs some serious work. Not just the flavor but the application. I would much rather have Wings Etc turn it around than see them go.
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • 52nd & College?
        TravisSeptember 27, 2010 3:15 PM
        What is going in at the old Box Office Video location at 52nd and College? Anyone?
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • unfair to employees
        John DoeJuly 24, 2012 5:48 PM
        The Ripple Inn has closed with thousands of dollars unpaid wages to the employees.
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • Coal Pizza
        John DoeJuly 24, 2012 5:54 PM
        Will the common owner do the same with employees at Coal Pizza? Legal action should stop him before he does.
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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      1. Doug Henning!

      2. These guy were thugs — they grew up in freaking Haughville! Smh, sigh. If the mayor needs/wants "quality" Black Hoosiers who are NOT corrupt, give me a call — I know plenty. Land bank info here - http://www.kubepharm.com/indylandbank/IndyLandBank.html

      3. Magician and illusionist!

      4. The basic idea of nice apartments with parking and retail is a good one, but this design seems overwhelmingly big/tall for Broad Ripple. The size could be disguised a bit with lots of big trees/landscaping, but the complex is too massive to blend in easily. That section of canal between College and Westfield will also need to be upgraded on both sides. Nice apartments facing onto a nice promenade with shade trees/plantings could bring together the canal towpath/Monon recreation, the outdoor seating at existing restaurants, and this project into something that upgrades the whole area. A plan for the whole stretch makes more sense than facing nice new housing onto what looks like a ditch. Is there a plan? Does the public have input? Who pays? The apartment idea seems to be reasonable, but Whole Foods is not a good idea for appropriate retail. Besides the store being physically too big, there are already Fresh Market at 54xCollege and Whole Foods in Nora for fancy groceries. Good Earth and Kroger are within walking distance of the Shell site. There are at least 7 grocery stores within a safe bike ride. Whole Foods would add nothing but traffic congestion. This design is on the right track, but there needs to be more work done to ensure that it blends in with and enhances the existing community. A project that large will set a tone for that whole part of town. It could be a real asset, but only if done right.

      5. I did not move to Zionsville to live in Carmel. This and the subsequent developments to follow will ensure a vanilla uniformity of strip malls and apartment buildings as we seek to bring our town down to the least common denominator. We were warned before recent elections that pro-development council members would make sure their friends (landowners and developers) would be able to make their millions off of the exploitation of Zionsville. Why in God's name would we sell out the best preserved small town in the State of Indiana?

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