Lutz’s Steak House to close after almost four decades

The clock is ticking for Noblesville fixture Lutz’s Steak House.

After nearly 40 years in business, Lutz’s will close for good on New Year’s Day, allowing owner Nancy Lutz to retire.

A message posted on the eatery’s Facebook page Nov. 17 invites customers to help celebrate “Lutz’s Last Stand” in the weeks leading up to its Dec. 31finale.

“It is hard to say goodbye but we hope you will visit us during the next six weeks to toast the good times and make new memories,” it said.

Nancy Lutz and her late husband Dave bought the former Calloways restaurant at 3100 Westfield Road in 1983. She has been running it on her own since Dave’s death in 2009.

The sprawling 6,500-square-foot eatery features classic steakhouse fare and ambiance. Its specialties include French Fried Lobster Bites, so-called Monster Salad and rave-worthy butterscotch rolls.

Lutz’s also offers live music Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays—complete with a dance floor. The curtain already has fallen on Thursday-night ballroom-dance lessons that once drew crowds.

In other retail news from the northern ’burbs:

— Texas Roadhouse’s new Bubba’s 33 pizza-and-burger emporium is open in Fishers, and it has the overflowing parking lot to prove it. As IBJ reported in March, the Louisville-based casual dining chain tore down a long-shuttered Bennigan’s restaurant at 9770 North by Northeast Blvd. (just east of Interstate 69 north of 96th Street) to build its second Bubba’s outlet. Contributing to its appeal: 33-degree beer and wall-to-wall flat screen TVs.

— A few miles north on State Road 37 in Noblesville, staff at corporate sibling Jaggers is in training. Texas Roadhouse is testing the fast-food concept at 14570 Mundy Drive, just east of 146th Street. Jaggers will specialize in chicken, burgers and salad.

— Husband-and-wife team Keith Brooks and Raquel Washington have opened The Ville restaurant in the former Eddie’s Corner Café space at 101 N. 10th St. in downtown Noblesville. (Eddie’s closed last year.) The Ville serves up its version of American comfort food at lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday and offers brunch on Sundays.

— Westfield’s Union Baking Co. has moved to larger space a few blocks east of its namesake location at 100 N. Union St., using the elbow room to expand its menu to include breakfast and lunch. Now located at 303 E. Main St., the shop gained a following for its range of sweet treats including French macarons.