Fishers’ Depot lands Charlotte pizza chain as anchor tenant

North Carolina-based Brixx Wood Fired Pizza has signed on as the anchor tenant in The Depot at Nickel Plate, a $42 million apartment-and-retail project under construction in downtown Fishers.

Developer Flaherty & Collins Properties announced the deal Friday morning, saying Brixx will occupy 3,824 square feet of space (plus outdoor dining) on the southwest corner of Municipal Drive and 116th Street. The restaurant is expected to open in October.

The Depot at Nickel Plate launched a long-awaited transformation of the town’s sleepy downtown. Since making redevelopment a priority in 2012, the town has attracted more than $93 million in downtown construction.

Officials want to build a lively, walkable core to attract businesses to the largely residential community.

Brixx is the first tenant to publicly commit to The Depot.

Founded in 1998 in an historic neighborhood in Charlotte, N.C., it now has 25 locations across the Southeast. Fishers will be its first Midwest location.

In addition to wood-fired pizzas cooked in brick ovens, Brixx offers salads, pastas and sandwiches—plus an assortment of beer and wine.

The Depot at Nickel Plate, which broke ground in October 2013, will have 242 high-end apartments and 17,000 square feet of retail space, Flaherty & Collins said. Construction should wrap up by April, but the first units are expected to be available this fall.

The town attracted The Depot development by contributing land and $11 million for a 430-space parking garage, which will be open to the public.