Roundup: Ambrosia, Jockamo, Square Donuts

Moves by a trio of local restaurants lead this edition of the Retail Roundup:

• Ambrosia at 915 E. Westfield Blvd. in Broad Ripple is moving south to 5901 N. College Ave. and will occupy part of the space where Fox Studios is currently located. Ambrosia owner Gino Pizzi expects to be operating there by mid-August, after Fox studios closes following 42 years in business. The space is much smaller than Ambrosia’s current location—2,600 square feet compared with 4,300 square feet. But Pizzi says his Italian eatery will have better visibility and better access to parking. Ambrosia has been on Westfield Boulevard since 1980. Pizzi has time remaining on his lease and said another restaurateur that he declined to name will sublease the space. “Literally, I’m taking my name and menu with me and that’s it,” Pizzi told Property Lines. “It’s a brand-new restaurant.”
• Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza in Irvington is expanding on East Washington Street, taking the space immediately to the west formerly occupied by Annie’s Apparel Retail Shop. The additional 1,400 square feet will enable owners Mike McGrath and Robert Stark to expand the bar and add tables and also a separate room to accommodate large parties. Wait times during weekends sometimes can exceed an hour, and with only 10 or so seats at the bar, lines can get long, McGrath said. “If you have an hour-and-a-half wait, that’s not helping business, it’s hindering it,” he said. The renovation should be finished in August.
• Stacked Pickle, a homegrown restaurant and bar in Carmel, plans to open a new location in Greenwood. The Pickle is taking about 4,000 square feet at 172 Melody Ave. near S. State Road 135 where Massey’s Pizza was formerly located. Owner Chris Long hopes to open the restaurant, his fourth, by September.
• Square Donuts is taking the space at 1 N. Pennsylvania St. downtown formerly occupied by Henry’s Coffee Bistro. Square Donuts began in 1967 in Terre Haute, where the shop has two locations. It also has stores in Bloomington and Richmond, as well as one at 6416 W. Washington St. in Indianapolis.
• 36 East Irish Pub & Grill is taking the space previously occupied by Coal Pizza at 36 E. Washington St. The coming-soon sign appeared this week.
• First Watch, the Florida-based breakfast, brunch and lunch eatery, is opening a fourth location in the Indianapolis area. The latest restaurant will open by the end of the year in 3,036 square feet at the Willow Lake West shopping center at 2902 W. 86th St., First Watch said.
• Dollar Tree is opening next to Family Dollar in the former Walgreens building at the southeast corner of North College Avenue and East 38th Street.