Downtown line change: New restaurants replace old ones

October 17, 2011
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This just in to the world headquarters of Property Lines... New downtown restaurants ink deals to replace other restaurants:

  • Former Zing on Indiana AvenueNew Orleans on the Avenue, a new casual Southern Creole restaurant, is set to take over the vacant former home of Zing at 543 Indiana Ave. (Building rendering above.) Owners Bridget Brown and Brian Marcelin plan to serve a menu including jambalaya, crawfish etouffee and sausage and chicken gumbo.
  • Greek's Pizzeria is taking over the former home of King David Dogs at the northeast corner of Washington and Pennsylvania streets. King David moved about a block north to M&I Plaza. Next door, Edible Arrangements is moving into the former home of Blimpie Sub Sandwiches.
  • Starbucks is replacing the downtown stalwart 40 West Coffee Cafe at the Omni Severin Hotel. The cafe has served breakfast and lunch from its lobby location for more than a dozen years.

Any others? Speak up and I'll add to the list!

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  • Indiana Avenue
    GregOctober 17, 2011 8:20 PM
    I really hated to see Zing go. To me, the whole Indiana avenue thing could be really cool if people would just go there more often. Hopefully New Orleans does better!
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  • Étouffée?
    CaitlinOctober 18, 2011 8:10 AM
    Bourbon Street Distillery is right down the block serving some awesome étouffée...I hope this doesn't hurt their business...should be room for everyone if more people just frequent Indiana Ave...
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  • Borders
    rwhOctober 18, 2011 8:38 AM
    Has anything been announced for the old Borders location yet? It would be nice if this was not vacant for the Super Bowl. But I'm sure it's too late.
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  • Keep it real
    RyanOctober 18, 2011 9:54 AM
    What is this Bourbon Street II? You are nearby a college campus; keep it simple with cheap booze and food, and a nice, fun staff. No need to go bougie like Zing tried to do.
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  • Ryan & Caitlin are right
    KentOctober 18, 2011 10:25 AM
    Same corner on same street, just a few blocks apart. Bouboun Street has created a strong following and their access is easy. The new No'lins looks like a direct copy only with worse parking and access. If afforable, and attracting the walk-in college crowd from IUPUI, it might make it. This could be the new college hang out? The Avenue needs to be re-thought and more retail brought back in both NW and SE of this location, the Cosmo will certainly help. Too bad the Cultural Trail snubbed the Walker and this entire intersection, what a active spot it could have been.
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  • Buddha?
    CrossedWiresOctober 18, 2011 10:26 AM
    There is a Buddha lounge going into the Pierpont Building on E Market St, where the old Guvernmanet bar was. Do you know if this a new business, or moving from another location?
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  • Bourbon Street Distillery
    GregOctober 18, 2011 12:14 PM
    I really see room for both places. I love bourbon street, but I also see so many possibilities for Indiana street in general. It should be as popular as Mass Ave. but more geared for pub crawling. Yeah, I know Hoosiers and walking don't mix - right?
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  • Snooty Fox Closed?
    JudyOctober 18, 2011 1:14 PM
    Just heard Nora's Snooty Fox, despite visit from Restaurant Impossible, has closed its doors. Can anyone confirm?
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  • More the merrier
    BJOctober 18, 2011 1:34 PM
    I'm happy to see something going into the old Zing building. I have a dinner break between classes and the more choices the better.
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  • Bourbon St
    EstaOctober 18, 2011 1:41 PM
    What hurts them is the suface parking lots between them and central downtown. I work near the NW side of the circle, and folks here will walk to Scotty and/or Kilroys for lunch, but if I suggest Bourbon St, they tell me it's too far to walk. I haven't actually counted the blocks, but I don't think there is that much difference.
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  • Hmmm
    RobOctober 18, 2011 1:48 PM
    King David's was not on the corner. So is Greek's going into that slot or the old King David?
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  • Food
    CrystalOctober 18, 2011 2:00 PM
    Papa Roux's just opened in the City Market.
    Ali Baba's just opened in the old Tea Cozy spot on Market and Illinois
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  • Coffee
    EthanOctober 18, 2011 3:00 PM
    We need to get Bjava Coffee downtown! Where can they go........
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  • Libertine
    SandyROctober 18, 2011 3:48 PM
    What about Libertine across from the IBJ building? Have they had the quietest opening ever or what? It's a bad idea to open a restaurant/bar and keep it a secret especially at that location.
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  • Libertine
    GregOctober 18, 2011 7:00 PM
    Yep, libertine is great. I also missed the opening of black market and think that place is amazing.

    Smoking Goose has opened as well. There's a rumor that the cheese cake factory and others are coming to the old nordstroms downtown location.
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  • Restaurants
    CMPOctober 18, 2011 7:13 PM
    When will Indianapolis get a good Polish restaurant?? Also, looking forward to an Italian deli who sells 'the makings' for a great authentic Italian dinner.
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  • 2 new places in BR
    JoePOctober 19, 2011 8:04 AM
    I don't know the names of the 2 new businesses in Broad Ripple, but the old Boogie Burger location has a new tenant (food joint), and the old Frankie's location has a new tenant as well (boutique).
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  • DT Speedway?
    NSOctober 19, 2011 8:22 AM
    Anyone know what is happening to the downtown Speedway gas station at South and Kentucky? I haven't had a chance to take a close look, but it is currently closed with fencing put up all around it.
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    • Ah Barista at Pan Am
      NSOctober 20, 2011 7:53 AM
      Ah Barista has been given notice that their lease is terminated in 30 days, so they are being forced to depart their space.
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    • Happy?
      mikeOctober 20, 2011 8:19 AM
      Happy Chicken on Delaware St downtown didn't last long. Anyone else try it? Let's just say I wasn't very "happy" with the food.
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    • I"m shocked
      PaulOctober 20, 2011 9:20 AM
      that place that's name is Chicken :-) would not be successful. How do you even tell somebody where you want to eat? Where do you want to go eat? Chicken. Ok, I know what do you want, but where should we go? Chicken. Fuggedaboutit!
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    • Speedway???
      JayOctober 20, 2011 7:37 PM
      Would also like to know what is up with the downtown Speedway - it was the only good gas station downtown.
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    • Gas Station Afficionado
      Indy GuyOctober 21, 2011 9:51 AM
      Too funny... "the only good gas station downtown". So, what makes it a good gas station... is it the flavor of the gas? Is it the body of the gas, maybe the vintage? Or do they have better Doritos than the other gas stations?

      I'm curious too what's going on... but not sure there are big differences between gas stations.
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    • N'Awlins Rocks!
      J BOctober 21, 2011 10:57 AM
      Just wanted to share our family's awesome experience with N'Awlins Creole! We have been visiting the Avon location for a couple of years now and the whole family loves it! Their shrimp E'touffe is wonderful along with everything on their menu! My husband loves the fried oysters which he says is the freshest you will ever find! I hope people do visit the Indiana St. location! You won't be disappointed!
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    • N'awlins
      DanielleOctober 21, 2011 11:01 AM
      Not at all like Bourbon St. BETTER! I've made the 40 minute trek to their Avon location many times, sooooo excited to have one in town! Best Po'Boys in the state!
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    • No comparison here!
      KhalilahOctober 23, 2011 9:28 AM
      Prior to the opening of N'awlins in Avon the owner Brian Marcelin catered my wedding rehearsal dinner - simply amazing and authentic creole food. I've eaten at Bourbon Distillery and Yats and trust me this has them beat hands down! As an IUPUI employee, can't wait to join my colleagues for lunch there!
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    • Yats......
      JoeOctober 24, 2011 9:54 AM
      Obviously nothing is better than Yats.......I believe they are almost two different styles fo food. Yats is a very quick, home cookin' type of hang out place. Bourbon St and Nawlins are more formal and their menus reflect that.
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    • Excitement & Despair
      Discerning DinerOctober 24, 2011 10:23 AM
      While I am very excited about all the new activity downtown. I would love to hear from some of the business owners, as to why they are closing up shop.

      I know that in the Fountain Square area, several businesses have closed due to the construction in the area. The cultural trail additions have taken months longer than anticipated, and as of now 5 of the shops or restaurants in this small area have closed. What a shame!

      As far as downtown goes. I would love to see a bakery & a good deli / soup shop in some of the empty spaces off Washington. A Cheesecake Factory would be perfect in the old Borders buliding.

      It would be great to have more of the empty space filled by the time the Super Bowl is here.
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    • La Jolla in Broad Ripple
      NSOctober 24, 2011 12:31 PM
      Just saw in the BR Gazette that La Jolla is closed? That is a pretty prime location...
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    • Speedway
      JennyOctober 24, 2011 1:23 PM
      I emailed Speedway. They are renovating, and hope to re-open mid-November.
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    • Tilted Kilt
      iuhoosier1992October 24, 2011 3:31 PM
      I vote for a Tilted Kilt to go in the old Borders site.
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      • Tilted Kilt
        JoeOctober 25, 2011 12:47 PM
        There is supposed to be a tilted kilt going into the old Jillian's space.
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        • Tilted Kilt
          CoryOctober 25, 2011 1:34 PM

          Reported Tilted Kilt here in September:
          http://www.ibj.com/property-lines/2011/09/09/tilted-kilt-taking-over-jillians-restaurant-space/PARAMS/post/29460
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        • Speedway
          Diana Nyirenda - ColliersOctober 27, 2011 9:11 AM
          There are a lot of great changes happening in Speedway. However, not many new retail options in the mix. A few retailers are hanging on until the end of the downtown redevelopment. It's an exciting time to be a Speedway resident.
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        • Little New Orleans
          Crossed WiresNovember 16, 2011 3:09 PM
          Looks like a southern/little New Orleans neighborhood is sprouting up on the east side of downtown. First Maxines chicken and waffle, now Pappa Roux in the market, and also Miquels southern kitchen on Delaware Street in the old Bash seed store building.
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        • Greg F.
          Greg F. WaltonDecember 14, 2011 10:52 AM
          What are these restaurants doing to reduce their environmental impact? I just learned about the quality of our air, third worse in the nation and the quality of our rivers that supply our drinking water. Restaurants use more electricity, create more waste and consume more water than any other retail business. Are any of them looking for solutions that can help?
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