Indoor golf simulator chain to open location at Carmel City Center
The Back Nine Golf Carmel will feature three golf simulator bays and event space for corporate events, private parties and social gatherings.
Franchises
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Indy’s first Raising Cane’s restaurant expected to open later this year
Since 2022, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based chicken fingers restaurant has opened central Indiana locations in Noblesville, Avon and Westfield.
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Burrito chain specializing in fusion flavors to make Indianapolis debut
The menu at Bubbakoo’s Burritos features a “Papi Hibachi” steak-and-shrimp burrito and a Nashville hot crispy chicken burrito.
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Denny’s expects to close 150 locations by end of 2025
About half of the closures will happen this year and the rest in 2025, the company said during a meeting with investors Tuesday. The restaurants represent about 10% of Denny’s total.
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Smalls Sliders looks to open shipping-container restaurants in Indiana
Smalls Sliders would be the latest brand with ties to former NFL quarterback Drew Brees to establish a presence in Indiana.
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Articles
Smoothie King plans four new locations in central Indiana
Two Indianapolis stores as well as locations in Speedway and Franklin are expected to serve Smoothie King blends by next summer.
Ohio-based Chop5 Salad Kitchen looks to recruit Indiana franchisees
Chop5 specializes in signature chopped salads such as the Harvest Chop Salad, Korean Chicken Chop Salad and Kale Quinoa Chop Salad.
Cooking oil recycler cleans up at IMS, Gainbridge
Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions filters customers’ used cooking oil for reuse. It also cleans customers’ fryers and carts off used cooking oil to be recycled into biodiesel fuel.
Mac & Cheese restaurant chain accused of misleading Indiana franchisees
The Florida-based fast-casual restaurant chain opened locations in Westfield, Indianapolis and Elkhart in 2020 and 2021.
Cookie shop inspired by hip-hop culture to open on Mass Ave
California-based Cookie Plug features a product that’s part cookie, part cake and part brownie. As many as five Cookie Plug shops are planned for central Indiana.
Seasoned fast-food franchisee couldn’t stay away
Fred Kaufman was once a prominent Burger King franchisee in central Indiana. An attempt at retirement didn’t stick, and he’s now the co-owner of two Rally’s locations in Indianapolis.
Kilwins confectionary and ice cream shop to open in Fishers
Kilwins, founded in 1947, is known for its menu of hand-crafted chocolates, hand-paddled fudge and ice cream. The shop will be its second in central Indiana.
Burger King owner buying out its biggest U.S. franchisee for about $1 billion
Carrols Restaurant Group runs 1,022 Burger King restaurants in 23 states, including more than 100 in Indiana.
McDonald’s burger empire set for unprecedented growth with 10,000 new stores
Ahead of a day-long event for investors, the Chicago burger giant said Wednesday that it aims to have 50,000 restaurants in operation worldwide by the end of 2027.
IBJ Podcast: Fast-growing MOTW Coffee and Pastries expanding to Chicago with pro-Muslim message
Sajjad Shah tells host Mason King that within five years, he hopes to have 40 to 50 coffee shops in the U.S.—a mix of company-owned and franchised locations.
McDonald’s franchisees fined for child labor violations
Federal officials say two 10-year-olds are among the 300 children who worked for three separate franchisees that operate a total of 62 McDonald’s locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio.
IBJ Podcast: Indiana’s Jiffy Lube guru on art, entrepreneurism, police relations and March Madness laundry
Steve Sanner is owner and president of Jiffy Lube of Indiana, which counts 51 locations and about 510 employees altogether.
VetCheck looks to franchise 250 urgent care clinics nationwide
Company leaders hope to eventually have one VetCheck center for every 30 traditional veterinary offices in any given area.
Ice cream shop models how to employ people with disabilities
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream’s goal is to provide more jobs to people with an intellectual or developmental disability. But it also wants to help other employers see people with disabilities as a dependable workforce.
Indianapolis-based franchising-tech firm Woven Brands lands $1.5M investment
Established in 2017, Woven Brands had been self-funded until now. The company’s software platform helps franchisee operators and multi-unit independent operators more easily manage their staff and operations.
Indianapolis-based Lawn Pride acquired by home-service franchisor
Lawn Pride Inc., which was founded 40 years ago by its CEO, will become the latest franchise brand for Waco, Texas-based Neighborly Inc.
East Coast wing chain planning multiple locations in Indianapolis area
Atomic Wings, a fast-casual chicken wing chain, plans to makes its Midwest debut in Indiana after signing a 10-unit development deal with an Indianapolis-based businessman who is well-acquainted with operating restaurant franchises.
Books & Brews chain continues to shrink with south-side closure
Planned closures on the south side of Indianapolis and in Zionsville will leave Books & Brews with just two locations, down from 10 in 2019.
Sonic Drive-In plans three new area locations, beginning in Westfield
The fast-food chain is getting set to add a Hamilton County presence to a local roster that includes existing Sonics in Avon, Camby, Greenwood and Plainfield.