Holiday sales at stores down for third consecutive week
Compared with last December, shoppers are more choosy this year and holding back on spending at brick-and-mortar locations. But even online sales are running below their expected growth rate.
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U.S. credit card info is easy pickings for hackers
Incidences like the recent data theft affecting 40 million Target customers could become more common as retailers, banks and credit card companies argue over who should pay for security upgrades.
Finish Line sees strong quarterly profit on big revenue rise
The company rebounded in its fiscal third quarter from a loss in the year-ago period, thanks in part to strong same-store sales and improvements in e-commerce sales.
Fury and frustration over Target data breach
Potential victims of credit card fraud tied to Target's security breach said they had trouble contacting the discounter through its website and call centers.
Rebranding of bird-food retail chain ups emphasis on core product
Wild Birds Unlimited recently unveiled a new marketing program encompassing everything from revamped store design to new staff training to a rebalancing of the product line. The idea was to place less emphasis on gift items and more on the store’s core product—birdseed.
Pittsburgh grocer jumping into Indy market
A major supermarket chain is hoping to expand into the Indianapolis market, starting with an anchor position in a mixed-use project under construction in Carmel.
Holiday shopping season: A disappointment so far
Sparse crowds at malls and "50 percent off" signs at The Gap and other stores offer clues as to how this holiday season is shaping up so far: It's the most discount-driven one since the U.S. was in a deep recession.
Two art galleries planned for historic downtown building
Work is progressing on the massive renovation of a historic downtown building in hopes that it will be ready to house a pair of art galleries in the spring. Both the four-story facade and the interior have been stripped.
Well-known auto dealer O’Brien dies at 82
In an auto-sales career spanning more than 50 years, Tom O'Brien built on a single dealership started by his father and created a multi-dealership business that today includes 16 family members.
Bill to target abandoned-home epidemic in Indiana
Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, wants to shorten the amount of time vacant homes sit idle.
Chase attaches name to downtown’s tallest building
At 48 stories, Chase Tower is downtown’s tallest building, making it hard to miss the bank’s moniker and logo that now adorn it.
City Center expansion plans could cost $100M
Developer Pedcor Cos. unveiled conceptual designs for six more buildings at Carmel City Center that could cost as much as $100 million to build over the next four to five years.
Homebuilders see second straight drop in permit filings
Despite the monthly decline, year-to-date permit filings are up 18 percent over 2012. This year’s number through 11 months has already exceeded 2012’s full-year total.
Group plans $2.8B mall buy from firm with heavy Simon ownership
Carrefour SA joined a group of institutional investors to buy 127 European shopping malls in a $2.75 billion deal with Klepierre SA, which is 29-percent owned by Simon Property Group.
Owners of Regions Tower putting building on the market
Office brokers say the 662,000-square-foot-building, downtown’s third largest, could fetch more than $60 million, or about $100 a square foot.
Area home sales fall for third straight month
Although area sales of existing homes are up 15.4 percent through the first 11 months of the year, the trend has reversed in recent months. Year-over-year sales have fallen in four of the last five months.
Simon plans for spinoff get warm reception from Wall Street
After recently stalling on the stock market, shares of Simon Property Group perked up in trading Friday after the massive local firm announced plans to spin off nearly 100 retail centers into a new firm. Analysts approved of the move.
Indy-based Simon spinoff will include 13 Indiana centers
The locally based retail giant confirmed Friday morning that its new spinoff will be headquartered in Indianapolis. Several of Simon’s properties in the area will be among the new portfolio, including Clay Terrace in Carmel.
Simon to spin off smaller properties into new public company
The as-yet-unnamed new company will have a separate management team. The company initially will own 54 strip centers and 44 malls.
Commercial blitz may follow Westfield’s housing boom
Poised for a development boom in those heady days before the real estate market collapsed, Westfield appears back on track for growth. Residential activity never stopped, but builders are picking up the pace in response to increasing demand. If history holds true, a commercial construction blitz will come next.