L.A. Fitness taking over empty north-side Marsh store
The chain’s 11th gym here will be an upscale version of what local members are used to. Also this week: Chuy’s restaurant and Vinny’s Drive Bar.
Retail
Articles
Album, CD business booms for one firm, even as streaming grows
Over the last decade, streaming sites and compressed file-sharing technologies such as MP3 have chased most “physical” media from the forefront of the audio and video recording industries. But Chip Viering sees that as an opportunity.
Sears to close 96 more stores, citing ‘difficult’ environment
The shutdown of 96 more Sears and Kmart locations will leave just 182 outlets for the company, which was once America’s biggest department store chain.
Wisconsin-based sub sandwich chain targets Indianapolis market
Cousins Subs, which recently opened its first Indiana location in Crown Point, is hoping to open eight to 10 stores in the central Indiana market. Also this week: News on Ellison Brewing and Massage Heights.
High-end Nora furniture store to close at year’s end
Form + Function owner Helmut Fortense is shutting down his store at the end of the year following 23 years in business so he can retire.
Flat12 Bierwerks changing its name under new ownership
The branding change comes 11 months after the 7-year-old brewery was acquired by Indianapolis-based Books & Brews.
Retailers seek to stretch shortened holiday shopping season
Faced with the shortest holiday shopping season since 2013, retailers are trying to figure out ways to get into the minds of shoppers sooner.
Granite City closes Carmel restaurant
The closure leaves Minnesota-based Granite City with only one Indiana location, in Fort Wayne. The company has struggled with financial problems in recent years, and has shuttered numerous locations in recent months.
Bravo! restaurant closes, site up for sale
The demise of the Castleton restaurant follows the chain’s sale to a private equity group. Also this week: Kilroy’s, Becker Supply, Nurture, Purse Strings and more.
Gerald Paul, co-founder of Paul Harris Stores, dies at 95
In addition to co-founding and leading national women’s clothing retailer Paul Harris Stores, Gerald Paul was an active philanthropist in local arts, education and Jewish causes.
Walgreens to close in-store clinics, add Jenny Craig sites
The company said Monday that it will close 150 Walgreens-run clinics by the end of the year, but it will keep open more than 200 that are run in partnership with health care providers.
Louis Vuitton maker looks to buy U.S. jeweler Tiffany for $14.5B
Tiffany & Co., which has one store in Indianapolis, owns luxury labels ranging from Givenchy haute couture to Sephora cosmetics stores, Hublot watches, Bulgari jewelry and Dom Perignon Champagne.
Startup sees big potential in Amazon-like site for orthodontists
Indianapolis orthodontist Jeff Biggs has been putting smiles on people’s faces for two decades. Now he’s hoping to put smiles on the faces of orthodontists themselves with a new one-stop online marketplace to launch early next month.
Axe-throwing studios snap up retail sites
At least six venues are open or in the works. Also this week: Dottie Couture, Book Warehouse, Cupid Couture and MBP Distinctive Catering.
Brokers say downtown dining scene hopping despite high-profile closures
A host of big-name restaurants has closed downtown over the past year amid financial struggles and disappointing sales.
International Marketplace sees flurry of restaurant openings
The area around the old Lafayette Square Mall will have almost 110 ethnic eateries by the end of the year. Also this week: Sun King, Chick-fil-A and Boot Barn.
St. Elmo Foods rolls out bourbon whiskey as its latest retail product
St. Elmo Whiskey, which is used to make the famous steakhouse’s top-selling cocktail, is the latest product offered by the restaurant’s retail affiliate.
Local children’s shoe store ready to call it quits after 58 years
The owner of longstanding local retailer Keen Children’s Shoes says she’s closing the store because it has become too difficult to compete in a changing retail landscape.
Indianapolis theater to reopen as first-run movie house
Also this week: YUJO Ramen & Boba Tea, Taste of Dubai, Which Wich, Marco’s Pizza, Bovaconti Coffee, State of Grace
Brown County distillery complex had 267,000 visitors in first year
One of Brown County’s newest tourist draws is also perhaps its most unusual. And it’s an integral part of the fast-growing family of local culinary/adult-beverage brands including Big Woods, Quaff ON and Hard Truth Distillery.