Walmart reportedly in talks with Humana for deeper partnership or merger
Walmart and Humana have explored a wide range of options including a merger, according to a source familiar with the situation.
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World’s biggest toymakers aren’t having much fun these days
There’s trouble in toyland. Sales at the world’s three biggest toymakers—Lego A/S, Hasbro Inc. and Mattel Inc.—slumped during the crucial 2017 holiday season, and the outlook for 2018 isn’t much better.
Finish Line shares sink after retailer falls short in key metric
Shares in Finish Line Inc.—which this week agreed to be acquired by British retailer JD Sports Fashion Plc for $558 million—tumbled Thursday morning after the Indianapolis-based retailer reported a sharp quarterly decline in same-store sales.
Residential Real Estate: Marketplace for March 30, 2018
Pending home sales in the central Indiana dipped 0.7 percent last month compared to the previous year, although prices are up 5.3 percent so far this year, to nearly $194,000.
Biglari says higher prices wouldn’t fix Steak n Shake, but not everyone agrees
A franchisee says Sardar Biglari's devotion to low prices is taking a toll on the customer experience at Steak n Shake.
Custom homebuilder expands to downtown condos
Litz & Eaton Development Co. and its two affiliates have grown from annual revenue of $1 million in 2011, the year residential developer Brad Litz and custom homebuilder John Eaton founded the company, to an expected $40 million this year.
MEMORY BANK: Kentucky Avenue billboard advertises used cars
This 1927 billboard above Martin Zinkan grocery at 1205 Kentucky Ave. advertises used cars at Capitol Overland Co. at Capitol Avenue and Michigan Street (a building that remains).
Restaurant-week promotions drive customers to try new eateries
Chefs vie for adventurous diners’ attention by putting together special fixed-price menus, usually three or four courses highlighting some of the chef’s best work.
City rushes to use $3M to raze abandoned houses
The Hogsett administration is racing against an end-of-year deadline to tear down blighted homes with $3 million it has remaining from a federal grant awarded in 2014 to tackle the problem.
Bricks and beams warm up industrial condo
Jeweler Nick Blum turned the former paint manufacturing plant—which dates to the 1890s—into several upscale condos with industrial details.
Newcomers add flavors to International Marketplace
If you haven’t been to the International Marketplace in a while (or not at all), here’s a rundown of the newest establishments on the multicultural menu just off Interstate 65 on the west side.
Babies ‘R’ Us demise sets off scramble for baby registries
The liquidation of Toys “R” Us Inc. has raised a big question: What happens to all the customers who had baby registries at the soon-to-be-defunct retailer?
Saks parent, a Simon Property partner, unable to escape slump
The rebound taking shape in parts of the retail industry eluded the owner of the Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor department stores, which failed over the holiday season to reverse a decline in same-store sales.
Warehouses now more valuable than office buildings, thanks to Amazon
Despite a lot of construction, warehouses are being leased as soon as the cranes come down. Indianapolis, Phoenix and California’s Inland Empire are among the hot markets nationally.
Brookfield’s deal for GGP seen as underpriced, bad for malls
Brookfield Property’s deal to take over shopping center landlord GGP Inc. isn’t winning over Wall Street analysts, nor is it scoring points with investors in retail real estate stocks, including Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group.
Santorini Greek Kitchen closing after 17 years in Fountain Square
Owners Taki and Jeanette Sawi said the restaurant’s last day of operations will be Saturday, but some of the eatery’s menu items will still be available at another venue.
Indianapolis-area home sales jump as inventories tighten, prices rise
The total number of active home listings in the region plummeted 19.4 percent, from 8,489 at the end of February 2017 to just 6,845 at the end of last month.
Brookfield Property to buy Simon Property rival for $9.25 billion
GGP Inc., known as General Growth Properties until changing the name a year ago, is the second-largest U.S. shopping mall owner behind Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group.
Finish Line’s merger with British suitor could pose challenge to Foot Locker
Combining Indianapolis-based Finish Line Inc. and JD Sports Fashion from across the pond could create a firm within striding distance of the sports apparel industry’s heavyweight, according to an analyst.
Two manufacturers plan new plants in Whitestown, nearly 200 jobs
A food-packaging maker and one of the world’s largest bearing manufacturers have plans to spend more than $22 million and lease more than 400,000 square feet of space in Boone County if tax incentives are approved.