5 new businesses on the Southside
The Southside took a hit when the economy soured, but the area is in the midst of a rebound.
Last year Indiana lawmakers approved Mayor Greg Ballard's plan to invest about $120 million in Indianapolis roads and sidewalks, including many on the long-neglected Southside. The City-County Council also approved the Madison Avenue Economic Development Area in 2014, which allows businesses to apply for tax incentives along the southern thoroughfare.
Retailers have taken note of the changes. Restaurants, shops and warehouse superstores are popping up throughout southern Marion and northern Johnson counties.
Here are five new businesses heading to the Southside.
1. Costco Wholesale
What: Costco Wholesale plans to build a 148,000-square-foot warehouse, gas station and tire center on 11 acres near County Line Road and Emerson Avenue.
Where: 4628 E. County Line Road, Indianapolis.
Details: Costco, based in Issaquah, Wash., guards information on construction projects, but permit applications and other public documents show the company is building its third Indianapolis-area warehouse store, gas station and tire center on land just north of the Greenwood Municipal Airport. Costco’s most recent permit application was filed on Aug. 19, but there is no visible construction activity on the site. A company spokesperson declined comment.
2. ULTA Beauty
What: ULTA Beauty will open a 10,000-square-foot store in a strip mall at U.S. 31 and County Line Road, north of the Greenwood Park Mall.
Where: The Shoppes at County Line, 8811 Hardegan St., Indianapolis.
Details: ULTA opened a 670,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Greenwood, but this is the beauty supply chain’s first Southside retail store. ULTA Beauty operates stores at West 86th Street and Union Chapel Road and at the Metropolis mall in Plainfield. A grand opening for the Southside store will be Sept. 11-13.
3. Zaxby’s
What: Zaxby’s is building a 3,900-square-foot restaurant that will employ about 45 people near Emerson Avenue and County Line Road.
Where: 1274 N. Emerson Ave., Greenwood.
Details: With more than 700 locations in 16 states, Zaxby’s plans to open its first Southside restaurant in November. The chain’s most popular menu items include hand-breaded Chicken Fingerz and traditional or boneless wings smothered in Tongue Torch, Nuclear, Insane or other sauces. Franchise owners Jeff Furlin and Bryan Bruce plan to open two more Zaxby’s in Johnson County by 2017.
4. Kroger
What: Kroger is investing $465 million on stores in Central Indiana, including six new, rebuilt or expanded stores on the Southside.
Where: Building new stores at Ind. 135 and Smokey Row Road in Greenwood; and Southport and Franklin roads in Indianapolis. Rebuilding existing locations into Marketplace stores at 8850 S. Emerson Ave.; 5325 E. Thompson Road; U.S. 31 and Mallory Parkway in Franklin. Expanding the store at Independence Drive in Greenwood.
Details: Kroger announced in April plans to rebuild or remodel 33 locations in Central Indiana by the end of 2017. Kroger will bring Marketplace stores (each about 50,000 square feet larger than a typical store) to three Southside locations. The Marketplace stores are expected to open in September and November.
5. T.J. Maxx
What: T.J. Maxx is moving into a 23,000-square-foot store in a strip mall at U.S. 31 and County Line Road.
Where: The Shoppes at County Line, 8811 Hardegan St.
Details: T.J. Maxx is closing its current store at 8806 U.S. 31 and moving across the street, next to the new ULTA Beauty, according to Doreen Thompson, vice president of global communications for The TJX Companies, Inc. The new T.J. Maxx will open in late September.
Call Star reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.