Roundup: Fountain Square fields new pizza options

Food offerings in Fountain Square's culinary scene are in near-constant flux, and it's high time someone again offered pizza in the area. The owner of the Red Lion Grog House is expanding his presence in Fountain Square by opening a pizza joint in perhaps the neighborhood’s most visible building. And there's another pizzeria on the way as well.

• Walter Bolinger hopes to launch Sidekicks Pizza in early April in the space vacated late last year by the End of the Line Public House on the southern end of the Fountain Square Theatre Building along Shelby Street.

Bolinger, who opened the Scottish-influenced Red Lion seven years ago at 1043 Virginia Ave., said he wanted to branch out and try a different concept. His kitchen manager, Brandon Newerth, who’s been with him on and off during Red Lion’s run, backed the decision.

“There’s no pizza at the moment in Fountain Square, so we thought it was a great idea,” Bolinger said.

They plan to make the dough and sauce in-house and feature a few “fun” pies, such as a Tex-Mex pizza made with Carolina barbecue sauce, ground sausage, black beans, fire-roasted corn, green onions and tortilla strips.

Sidekicks will sport 10 craft beer taps and serve wine as well.

Elsewhere in Fountain Square:

• Papa Ray’s Pizza & Wings, which has four locations in the Chicago area, is set to open at 1267 Shelby St. in the space formerly occupied by Pizza King.

According to the chain's website, it's also planning two new locations in suburban Chicago and is seeking new franchisees.

Brothers George and John Rayyan opened the first Papa Ray's in 2009. The restaurant is named in honor of their father,

• Veloworks Urban Cycling, at 1354 Shelby St., continues to unload inventory as the shop prepares to close following a three-year run at the location.

Also on Shelby Street:

• As Veloworks prepares to close, another bike shop, Joe’s Cycles, opened last month at 2242 Shelby St., south of Raymond Street in Garfield Park. In addition to bicycle sales and repairs, the shop serves Tinker Coffee, sandwiches and soups.

Downtown:

• The Owner’s Wife opened Feb. 26 at 608 N. Park Ave., south of Massachusetts Avenue and adjacent to Outlier’s Brewing Co. Ted Miller operates Outlier’s and also The Owner’s Wife, with, of course, his wife, Shannon Stone. Both also own Brugge Brasserie in Broad Ripple.

The Owner’s Wife brew pub includes a bar area, a family-friendly dining room and an outdoor beer garden. Large plates running from $17 to $26 include pork schnitzel, chicken thighs, giant peel ‘n eat shrimp and market fish.

In Hamilton County:

• Domino’s launched its new “pizza theater” Feb. 27 at 1441 S. Guilford Road at the intersection of East 116th Street. The store, formerly located at 841 S. Rangeline Road, features a lobby area and indoor seating, free Wi-Fi, open viewing of the food-preparation process, in addition to allowing customers to track carryout orders via an electronic lobby screen.

• At Hamilton Town Center, Elkhart-based Chef Adam’s Kitchen has opened near Stone Creek Dining and offers, coffee, made-in-house lunches, popcorn, desserts and snacks.

Also at the shopping center, Fresh to Order is set to open next month in the former Paradise Cafe space. The Atlanta-based fast-casual restaurant serves soups, salads, sandwiches and dinner entrees, as well as wine and beer.

Fresh to Order announced in September that it plans to bring 10 Fresh to Order restaurants to Indianapolis.

Elsewhere:

• Ross Dress for Less is set to open a store March 4 at 4200 S. East St. in the Southern Plaza Shopping Center near the northwest corner of South East Street and Interstate 465.

The Dublin, California-based retailer opened in October in the former Clark Appliance space at 5415 E. 82nd St.

• Near there, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is opening at 5320 E. 82nd St., Suite 105, in Kite Realty Co.’s strip center that replaced the Perkins restaurant by Allisonville Road. The Las Vegas-based sandwich chain has 106 locations in 16 states.

• Primanti Brothers opened March 1 at 9646 E. U.S. 36 near Rockville Road in Avon. The Pittsburgh-based sandwich chain known for sandwiches featuring coleslaw and French fries also has outposts at Circle Centre mall downtown, at 5221 Noggle Way on the south side, near Interstate 465 and County Line Road, and at 13871 Cabela Parkway near Cabela’s in Noblesville.

Closings:

• Wild Beaver Saloon at 723 Broad Ripple Ave. has shut its doors.

• Le Peep at 2258 W. 86th St. east of Township Line Road has closed. The restaurant has four Indianapolis locations and one in Carmel.

• The Elizabeth Arden Hair Salon at Macy’s in Castleton Square Mall is no longer operating.