Closings roundup: Menards, Urban Element, Spa Chakra

August 23, 2010
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  • closed signMenards is closing its store near I-465 and West 38th Street. The Wisconsin-based chain has seven other area stores, including in Avon, Carmel, Fishers and Greenwood. An employee at the store at 6450 Gateway Drive said it will close for good Oct. 29.
  • Urban Element has closed both of its restaurants, the original at 901 N. Pennsylvania St., and Urban Element II at 415 S. Alabama St. Owner Steve Roberts opened his second restaurant outpost in the former home of Elements near Mass Ave within the last few months.
  • Spa Chakra at the Conrad Indianapolis hotel closed on Friday. The website for the company, which also operated spas in New York and Chicago, was not working this morning. The spa in April sold more than 2,400 Groupons offering $300 worth of services for $79.
  • El Bodegon, a tapas restaurant and market along 96th Street in Fishers, has closed. A sign on the restaurant's door says El Bodegon will continue to offer catering.
  • Blimpie has closed its downtown location along Pennsylvania Street just north of Washington Street.
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  • sad
    gregAugust 23, 2010 12:47 PM
    I really liked Urban Element, but I was really confused why the second location opened in the first place. Hopefully they can re-open or something just as tasty can open in its place.
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  • Super Sad!
    LuciaAugust 23, 2010 1:07 PM
    I loved Urban Element! Great location, great food, great people. Come back soon!!
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  • Bummer ---
    TomAugust 23, 2010 1:16 PM
    I liked Urban Element a lot also --- but its location off of Mass Ave kept it a little hidden. It was kind of buried behind the landscaping... and as close as it was to busy Mass Ave -- I think it kind of got overlooked. The Pennsylvania Street location perhaps needed a few more of those planned residential projects nearby to get built. I guess people just aren't eating out as much as they used to.
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  • Oh no!
    AlaneAugust 23, 2010 1:17 PM
    I'm so sad to hear that Urban Element has closed. Definitely one of my favorite lunch spots in town - in fact, I was to meet up with some friends there next week. I do hope they re-open, even if it's just their original location!
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  • Poop on Groupon?
    BradshawAugust 23, 2010 1:58 PM
    Any word if the spa plans on honoring the Groupons? I could see them restructuring to eliminate the liability. Of course, I suspect Groupon will be the ultimate loser there if they honor their guarantees.
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  • Menards
    MattAugust 23, 2010 2:08 PM
    That Menards on 38th/High School is one of the worst. The only downside is having another vacant building in that corridor...hopefully someone else comes along and can
    re-suse the space.
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    • Groupon / Spa Chakra
      Dave in IndyAugust 23, 2010 2:27 PM
      Bradshaw - as much as Groupon has made, refunding the 2100 purchases (less those who used them already) would be a mere drop in the bucket.

      Speaking of closings and Groupons, El Bodegon also offered Groupons, if I recall correctly as did the Mazatlan restaurant at Washington and Franklin on the East side, it closed recently too.
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    • Groupon
      BradshawAugust 23, 2010 5:24 PM
      How much has Groupon made? I honestly have no idea what their take is on these sales, but envision it only being a few bucks on each sale.
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      • UE II
        Jim LucasAugust 23, 2010 6:36 PM
        Really bummed at the closing of Urban Elements II. With the Fringe Festival nearby, this would have been the perfect time to pick new customers.
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      • odd
        CorrNDAugust 23, 2010 8:59 PM
        The Urban Element closing is odd. You would assume that they wouldn't expand if they weren't already doing very well with the original. This is particularly true given how close the locations are and the prospect of poaching your existing business with the new location.

        Also, don't new restaurants typically have multi-year plans to profitability? Throwing in the towel not even 5 months after opening the second location just seems very weird.
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      • Groupon/spa
        Russ ChargualafAugust 23, 2010 9:45 PM
        Bradshaw..Groupon takes 75% of the purchase price. It is THE largest coupon internet based company in the world. With respects to the spa, my wife had her appointment scheduled for next week. They called her and told her that it was closing and to contact Groupon for a refund of the purchase price. When I twittered the Conrad, they direct messaged me to hold onto the Groupon and that they will "guarantee" the next spa will redeem it for its full value. Yes, I saved that messsage!
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      • Menard's Closing
        Jim OlsonAugust 23, 2010 10:35 PM
        Sorry to hear that Menards is closing the store near my home. They are a great alternative to Lowes and Home Depot. Hope they find a better west side location.

        Heard from an employee that this was a leased store location that never merited the upgrades enjoyed by Menard's suburban stores. No air conditioning and the parking lot had pot holes big enough to swallow trucks.
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      • to Bradshaw
        lolaAugust 23, 2010 11:28 PM
        Groupon makes 50% to 75% from the sale price
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      • Urban Element
        PasqualeAugust 24, 2010 8:37 AM
        Funny . . . I just happened to hear a businesswoman yesterday complaining because Urban Element had bounced $1400 in checks to her business.
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        • Sad story
          thundermuttAugust 24, 2010 9:53 AM
          Successful small restaurant expands to bigger 2nd location. Cash flow problems ensue. Drags down original.

          Happened to El Sol @ Union Station. Now Urban Element.

          Fortunately for all of us, a couple of Yat's failed expansions haven't dragged down the original two on North College and on Mass Ave. (Joe must actually know how to do this... :) )
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        • Zoe's Yougurt
          CrystalAugust 24, 2010 10:37 AM
          Tomato Pie Bistro owner Adam Brent plans to launch a new restaurant concept in the former location of Zoeâ??s Yogurt Village/Gourmet Frankâ??s in Broad Ripple. Tentatively named Sugo (Italian for â??sauce in October. Brent says he plans to close Tomato Pie Bistro this fall and â??put it on ice,â?? with the intent of relaunching the pizza spot in a new location in the coming years.

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        • Groupon will refund cost of coupons
          AndreaAugust 24, 2010 10:41 AM
          Groupon will quickly refund the cost of your coupon if you e-mail them. I had one to El Bodegon, and my credit card was quickly credited for the original cost once I contacted Groupon. They will do the same thing for Spa Chakra ones, as well.
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        • Bradshaw? Facial?
          BLOGojevichAugust 25, 2010 12:24 PM
          I never pictured Bradshaw as the spa type...
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        • Weird
          SandraAugust 26, 2010 1:54 PM
          I thought Urban Elements was doing well . . . that is very odd. Wonder what the back story is on that one.

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        • sale???
          SandraAugust 26, 2010 4:00 PM
          I wonder if they will have a liquidation sale???? If so then i'm totally there!
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        • Mass Ave
          CrystalAugust 27, 2010 11:21 AM
          Mass Ave chocolates is closing it's Chase Tower location they could not keep the temp regulated and it was affecting the product.
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        • urban element
          RyanSeptember 24, 2010 12:55 PM
          I worked at Urban Element for 3 weeks and then it closed. I never got paid a dime for the hours I put in there. The owner was a complete and utter clown, and I have no idea how he opened any kind of business in the first place. He ignores everyone's calls and is a worthless human being.
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          • disagree
            ColleenSeptember 29, 2010 2:35 PM
            The Menards on the west side was one of the friendliest places, and had the most helpful and knowledgable workers. The building was out of date, and not air conditioned, but it will be missed as an affordable store with helpful workers. I just hope they move them to the Avon location
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          • Urban Element
            HarriettOctober 2, 2010 8:57 AM
            Wow!!! That was shocker to hear about them closing!!! I wish I knew who to contact about buying the Urban Element on Pennsylvania!!! I have some great ideas for that place.
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          • no permit
            matt roseOctober 3, 2010 5:59 AM
            Not exactly right. they shuit down gis old restaurant because he was sued by the hamilton county health board for not being certified or registered. watch out for this guy. he thinks hes above the law. look into it.
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          • Not Surprised
            HeidiNovember 11, 2010 10:50 AM
            While I loved the food and atmosphere of the Urban Element, I had tried contacting them on several occasions regarding using them as a potential venue for a workshop I was planning. When I didn't hear back after the 2nd or 3rd time, I gave up on them.

            Food and atmosphere are nice, but you have to have BUSINESS SKILLS to stay in business.
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          • not surprised
            kerryNovember 11, 2010 12:58 PM
            too much turnaround, manager was a utter moron. i worked there as a dishwasher and i saw at least 5 or 6 people quit.
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