AVON-Chain eateries to locate at center

Bonefish, Panera among restaurants planning to open in Raceway Commons

By Bruce C. Smith bruce.smith@indystar.com November 15, 2003

From fresh fish to upscale breads, from premium ice cream to bake-at-home pizza, a shopping center scheduled to open early in January will bring new franchised eateries to the Avon area.

Anchors in the center will be Bonefish Grill and Panera Bread, restaurants that have been successful elsewhere in the Indianapolis area.

They will be in Raceway Commons, a 32,700-square-foot strip center under construction on the southeast corner of Rockville and Raceway roads on the Indianapolis side of the Marion-Hendricks county line. Leasing agent Ryan Zickler of Zickler Associates estimated up to 60,000 vehicles travel daily through the intersection.

Besides Bonefish Grill and Panera Bread, Zickler Associates has signed two other fast-growing national franchises -- Papa Murphy's pizza and Cold Stone Creamery. Also moving to the new center from other sites in Avon are Diamond Den jewelry store and Cookie Cutters hair salon for children.

Indianapolis-based Williams Realty Group bought the property and completed the development that was initially proposed by Avon owners Jerry and Joe Simpson and Dennis Copenhaver. The Simpsons' Coach and Horses steakhouse, a longtime landmark on the site, closed in June.

"We've been looking at the Westside for a couple of years, watching for an opportunity," said Sam Tancredi, partner in Midwestern franchises for Bonefish Grill. "There has been a lot of development in Avon. It is a great regional market."

Bonefish, which boasts fresh fish delivered daily, has 28 locations in Florida and others scattered in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Avon becomes the third location in the Indianapolis area. Entrees average about $15.

Gary Geist, vice president of development for Panera's Midwestern franchises, said his company has been watching the Avon area for about two years and sees its growth.

"We look at the high traffic counts around the intersection and the demographics of the population, and we felt we've been missing a great opportunity on the Westside," he said.

Panera, which has about 500 locations nationwide, announced a very aggressive goal of 1,000 locations by 2005. There are 15 in Indiana.

Popular menu items include bagels for breakfast, and salads and bread bowls filled with French onion soup for lunch.

Also in Raceway Commons, Papa Murphy's is a franchise dubbed a take-and-bake pizza business. Customers take home a pizza made with premium ingredients that is ready to bake in their oven.

Cold Stone Creamery is an upscale ice-cream shop headquartered in Arizona.

Call Star reporter Bruce C. Smith at 1-317-444-2803.