A real estate investor is building a massive new mansion at Burr Street across from Hyles-Anderson College in Schererville A $3.5 million mansion is under construction on Burr Street in Schererville A real estate investor is building a 12,000-square-foot mansion on Burr Street in Schererville A multimillion-dollar mansion under construction in Schererville has been turning heads and is believed to be among the priciest ever built in Lake County seven-bathroom mansion has two three-car garages and a one-car garage the house is so grand many passersby have mistaken it for a new administrative building across the street at Hyles-Anderson College a private Independent Fundamental Baptist college that's affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Hammond A real estate investor who declined to comment is building the house as a personal residence The highest priced home sale in Lake County from an MLS listing was for $2.5 million in Cedar Lake in 2020 whose Matt Maloney Real Estate Group specializes in luxury homes 9,645-square-foot home on a 43.32-acre lot on Woodmar Place sold for $2.4 million in 2004 The priciest home sale in Lake County over the past 12 month was for just over $2 million Indiana Association of Realtors Vice President of Public Affairs Chris Watts said most luxury homes in Lake County have sold in the range of $1 million to $1.5 million but land prices and construction costs have been skyrocketing in recent years "A $3 million house is very rare," Maloney said The home is not the most extravagant ever built in Lake County which does not have as many million-dollar home listings as neighboring Porter County or as many pricey home sales at the high end of the market as LaPorte County The late billionaire Dean White built a 21,438-square-foot 11-bathroom house in the Morningside subdivision he developed in Crown Point The assessed valuation of White's former residence was $5.6 million last year according to the Lake County Assessor's Office the average cost of a newly built single-family home climbed to a record $665,298 last year according to the National Association of Home Builders Construction Cost Survey The average size of a newly built home was 2,647 square feet on slightly less than a half-acre lot with an 86 square foot increase in the average finished floor space The cost of housing has soared nationally since the Great Recession climbing from $267,900 nationally in 2011 to more than $500,000 for the last two years The median home price in Northwest Indiana reached a new high of $250,000 last year "Prices have darn near doubled over what they were 15 years ago," Northwest Indiana Realtors Association CEO Pete Novak said The new Schererville mansion is an outlier that's unlikely to move the needle on the overall housing market in Lake County "It's like how Elon Musk is worth $400 billion versus a regular rich guy," he said It would be interesting if it ever went on the market It's cool the guy is doing it but I'm not sure it has any implication on the market as a whole." La Carreta Mexican Restaurant and Bar fires up the grill in Winfield early this week The Mexican restaurant with locations in Schererville and Merrillville is targeting a Monday or Tuesday opening for its new eatery in the former Anytime Fitness at 10711 Randolph St La Carreta offers authentic cuisine like tacos The traditional Mexican eatery has a number of steak pollo loco or Camarones el Caribe with mushrooms The Camarones la Carreta cooks a pound of shrimp in garlic A house special is the Arroz Texano that mixes steak Dessert options include flan and deep-fried ice cream The restaurant also has a three-way liquor license allowing it to serve beer For more information, visit www.lacarretarestaurantandbar.com Mi Tierra has been serving authentic Mexican food in a unique setting for more than two decades The casual dining restaurant served up hearty homestyle Mexican food as planes took off and landed just outside the windows in the Griffith-Merrillville Airport But now the longtime owner Jesus "Don Chuy" Toledo is retiring and turning the restaurant space over to new owners "After 27 years in the restaurant business — 22 of them in the Griffith-Merrillville Airport — and some long discussions Don Chuy and his family have decided they’re ready to take their next steps and are closing Mi Tierra Our last day is June 30," Mi Tierra posted on social media we’re handing over the reins to Flako's Tacos an East Chicago-based restaurant whose food truck has a strong fan base in Griffith They’ll be bringing their amazing Birria tacos and flavor to town but they’re also keeping some of what we do Diners could ask what's cooking for Don Chuy's latest special But it's not the final chapter for Don Chuy "And because you know no one can keep him down (trust us — we’ve tried) Don Chuy will still be whipping up spices and chorizo in a nearby space so he’ll still be floating around and hopes to see the many of you he’s come to know and love We also hope he takes a well-deserved vacation or six but you know how that goes," Mi Tierra posted on social media "We’re so very grateful to each one of you who’ve come through our doors and gotten to know us through the years It’s bittersweet knowing we raised a whole family within these walls but it’s also time for a new family to grow and we hope you’ll show them the love and support you’ve shown us." Wendy's is opening its latest Northwest Indiana location in the downtown of East Chicago's Indiana Harbor neighborhood A new fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru is under construction at the corner of Columbus Drive and Main Street across from Subway in the Harbor's main commercial drag Wendy's offers old-fashioned square hamburgers Known for its irreverent social media presence it overtook Burger King for second place by revenue trailing only McDonald's as the top-selling fast-food burger joint The chain has multiple Northwest Indiana locations Bulldog Ale House Food & Brews is now pouring drinks in downtown Lansing.  It took over the former Jack's Sports Pub and Eatery at 3325 Ridge Road it's a local Chicagoland chain with locations in Algonquin It serves traditional pub fare like burgers Signature entrees include chicken and waffles It also has shareable plates like truffle parmesan fries kale and artichoke dip and Italian beef egg rolls Sandwiches skew traditional with options like Rubens Diners also can save room for house-made desserts like cheesecake and Rumchata bread pudding For more information, visit bulldogalehouse.com The Love of Arts Community Center is now teaching art classes in Griffith Founder and Executive Director Sade Carrasquillo opened the community center at 1115 E It provides classes and artistic resources meant to spur creativity in both youth and adults and still can't believe that it has finally happened," said Carrasquillo "Our community deserves more outlets where we can creatively express ourselves I am honored to be one of those providers." crafts and STEM activities for kids between 6 months and five years from 10 a.m Hip Hop Dance and other programming for youth and adults as well as art classes for people in the Lake County work release program Most creative classes are six weeks in length "All of us have some type of talent and many want to explore new ones," Carrasqullio said "The Love of Arts Community Center is here to cultivate these talents and of course offer fun and memorable experiences We are excited to expand our reach to the town of Griffith as well as all of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland" said Sade Carrasquillo founder of For the Love of Arts Community Center." For more information, visit artsforlove.org Illinois Dermatology Institute recently expanded its footprint in Northwest Indiana by opening an office in Munster The clinic is now treating patients for skin conditions at 9601 Calumet Ave. in the Centennial Village development by Centennial Park cosmetic dermatology and pediatric dermatology It performs procedures like mohs surgery and surgical excisions The Illinois Dermatology Institute office is open from 8 a.m The WhoaZone floating water park at Whihala Beach in Whiting has reopened for the season It's a floating obstacle course at 1561 Park Road in Whiting run around and splash into the water while lifeguards supervise For more information, call 219-234-2615 or visit https://whoa.zone/whiting/ is celebrating the third anniversary of its brick-and-mortar location in downtown Valparaiso lifestyle boutique that’s dedicated to women of all generations and celebrating life’s happiest moments," Customer Experience Lead Raeann Grusak said welcoming environment for all & ensure that each person who walks through our doors leaves feeling happier and uplifted." The boutique is located at 260 Franklin St. "Giving back and paying it forward is the soul of our company," she said "Since we opened our doors in the summer of 2020 we have had the honor of donating time and money right back into NWI to help our neighbors in need through nonprofits like The Caring Place Housing Opportunities and Hilltop Neighborhood House." home decor and Foggy Dog Ruby Dog Bow Ties to "make your pup extra dapper." "While we reflect on these past three years we want to thank our amazing community and customers," Grusak said. "Being a part of Valparaiso has been an honor; we’ve loved every second of it We’re beyond grateful for the support we've received and look forward to many more years of celebration." For more information, visit www.ellajayms.com Shops on 41 in Schererville is now 100% leased one of the leading commercial real estate firms in Northwest Indiana leased out the last two spots in the new strip mill on Indianapolis Boulevard just south of U.S 30 and the Crossroads of the Nation intersection A high-end barber shop and dental practice both signed leases The new tenants plan on starting construction immediately “We’re excited for the two new tenants to join the existing strong tenant lineup and get us to 100% occupied said Brett McDermott of Latitude Commercial Both of the tenants will benefit from the great visibility on 41 and all of the tenants complement each other well The Landlords did a great job on the design and look of the building and are happy to have filled the last remaining space.” deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Email notifications are only sent once a day Video provided in partnership with The Times Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Schererville is the latest Region community to explore a designated area where alcohol may be bought and consumed, albeit a very limited one. The town council voted last week to establish a "designated outdoor refreshment area" for the downtown district Director of Operations Andrew Hansen said it will be focused on the new Pennsy Pints and Performers event "There'd be food vendors and different beverage vendors and we'd have live music," Hansen told council members and you'd be able to have alcohol within this designated area A DORA allows customers to buy alcohol from an approved vendor and drink it anywhere in the designated area without having to stay inside a restaurant or fenced-in beer garden Schererville's DORA would include Greg's Place the open lot at 22 West Joliet Street and the areas in front of the town hall and police department Schererville Lounge would also be allowed to sell alcohol in the DORA as a temporary vendor although its physical location wouldn't be included Hansen said the state frowns on creating DORAs for one-time events but it would still be limited to Fridays and Saturdays in August see how it was going to work and start small and we can always build from there," Hansen said The DORA now goes to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for final approval This isn't the first time Schererville has tried to use alcohol regulations to spur activity downtown. In 2023, the town council established a "riverfront district," to make it easier for new restaurants to get a liquor license Jersey Mike’s will soon be opening their second location in Schererville The popular sandwich shop has recently signed a lease at 275 US 30 which is located immediately adjacent to the new Dunkin currently under construction The plans are to start construction immediately on the space Brett McDermott of Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial represented the Landlord in the lease negotiations. “Jersey Mike’s is a great addition to the new strip center and will be a strong compliment to Dunkin.” Share Good News Contact Us Meet Our Team (Photo by Joey Lax-Salinas)Town's plans for major improvements take shapeSchererville officials make no bones about being a bedroom community we are really busy,” Town Council President Tom Schmitt said “The biggest is the Kennedy Avenue expansion a four-phase program we’ve been working on the whole time I’ve been on the council moving to Schererville 11 years ago was a big decision she is happy she made “I moved there when my daughter was young and going to school,” she said “It’s a good community where kids can go out and play in the streets and ride their bikes and go to school Citytistics gave Schererville an A+ for safety citing a relatively low crime rate in comparison to other cities similar in size “I think there’s access to all of the amenities that you need “I have probably three Targets within 10 minutes of me.” It also helps that her job as president and CEO of the Legacy Foundation in Merrillville is a short drive away Kennedy Avenue will be a four-lane road extending from Main Street to U.S Director of Operations Andrew Hansen spends most of his time on the Kennedy Avenue project working with railroads and the state to make it all happen Among the four phases is putting a bridge over the railroad tracks to eliminate an at-grade crossing to speed traffic and improve safety The bridge over the railroad is the first phase of the Kennedy Avenue project Relocating utilities will take most of 2025 The third phase takes it from Oak Street to Main Street The fourth and final phase involves connecting to U.S at a current stoplight near the Pete’s RV dealership “The reason why it’s taken so long is to get the funding through NIRPC (Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission) takes years and years,” Schmitt said they know what each phase will be over the next five years 1 project under NIRPC’s radar,” Schmitt said “That actually helps all the way from Hammond to Highland to Schererville.” this long-term project might take a while to complete The town has been saving for 25 years to provide the local share of the $75 million project’s cost to remove some of the north and south traffic off Indianapolis Boulevard,” Schmitt said but there is likely to be an economic development payoff with development expected along Kennedy Avenue “I could see some of the people selling the backs of their property to have frontage onto Kennedy Avenue” in the phase four section Hansen said Pete’s RV will lose some of its property but gain a location on a busy intersection “We don’t want to buy property that we don’t need,” he said there will be a traffic pattern unusual in Northwest Indiana Traffic turning left will have to turn right first and enter a special lane to do a U-turn for a left turn “I call it a ‘Michigan left,’” Hansen said The configuration is popular in western Michigan Junction Avenue will be realigned to have a traffic signal at the intersection That’s where the town’s wastewater treatment plant and public works campus are located The existing Pennsy Greenway will be slightly rerouted the biggest holdup is the two railroads: Canadian National (Railway) and Norfolk Southern,” Hansen said Railroads are notorious for being slow to agree to changes affecting their routes “The hierarchy is like the railroad and then God,” he said The only portion with sidewalks or trail will be U.S and there’s nothing on the north end to connect them to anyway “That took off $2 million of the cost” to eliminate sidewalks on the railroad bridge it’s roughly 2.3 miles of new roadway between U.S Hansen said the town created a community advisory committee and found a neighborhood near Junction Avenue didn’t want heavy truck traffic going through the road will shift to the left to avoid it The new stretch of Kennedy in phase four will be called Kennedy Boulevard “There’s a lot of people who live on that street,” Hansen said and the town didn’t want to change a lot of addresses so that’s how we ended up with this routing,” Hansen said the town developed a tax increment financing district knowing someday Kennedy would have to be expanded “That’s where we’ve been stashing our money,” he said the town could have completed all four phases for $20 million instead of the current $75 million estimate But that would have involved a different financing model “It takes time to get that TIF money saved,” Gorman said “We should be very close to funding the whole thing with TIF dollars,” Hansen said “I don’t think any other municipality in our area does that.” Schererville doesn’t issue bonds for routine road construction projects “We’ve very happy with our road funding,” Schmitt said Community Crossing grants offered by the Indiana Department of Transportation have been a boon to the town “We’ve actually matched that $1 million every year.” Schererville doesn’t have to do as much reconstruction because the roads are kept in good shape “Our ratings have always been pretty good” on the state’s 1-to-10 rating system The town’s average road condition is edging toward eight The Community Crossing funding allows the town to do sidewalks as long as they’re on the roads being worked on Another big project the town is working on is building a downtown on Joliet Street near the town hall and other municipal buildings Like some other Northwest Indiana communities strip malls popped up in commercial corridors before a downtown could be created piece by piece as properties came up for sale the Redevelopment Commission purchased six lots west of the town hall to attract a developer to start building that downtown Expect a mixed-use development with a restaurant and residential to pop up soon The owners of Little Italy restaurant in Dyer bought that property but the goal is to have businesses on the ground level and residential on top The Redevelopment Commission is focused on creating a downtown that roughly extends to Cline Avenue along Joliet The downtown core will be between Austin and Anna streets “We’re just getting ready for them to bring on their plans and bring them to the Planning Commission,” Schmitt said “Our goal is to have more development go on Joliet Street to revitalize our downtown.” Schererville’s downtown has been designated a riverfront district which allows the town to create more liquor licenses in a town where available licenses are in short supply there are none in Schererville,” Hansen said Decorative street lighting will help beautify and distinguish the downtown area “We always wanted to be identified as that’s our downtown,” Schmitt said Creating a downtown gives more of a town identity “That’s why we kept a lot of our municipal buildings down here.” Expect a new fire station at Anna and Joliet to be added to the mix of municipal buildings “Our goal is to build a new central fire station there,” Schmitt said and eventually close the one at Old 330 and Cline Avenue the firetrucks will be able to reach the north end of town quicker The station should be going out for bid later this year “We’ve got a lot of stuff going on,” Hansen said not the least of which is redeveloping the old Illiana Speedway property why did you sit on that property so long?” Schmitt said town officials decided to use the property to bring more recreation to the town About 75% of the property will be used for that purpose 30 expected to be sold off for commercial use we’ll be working with a hired engineering firm to put some designs together,” Schmitt said He’s thinking it will be an entertainment place similar to Bulldog Park in Crown Point or Central Park in Valparaiso but in a bigger space than those two landlocked areas “This is what I call the inspiration board,” Hansen said wheeling around a whiteboard with pictures of developments elsewhere Residents weighed in on features they’d like to see at the new park Other popular ideas were a botanical garden “I think what a lot of people want to see is like a mix of downtown Valpo “Technically we have 111 acres we could work with if you include Rohrman Park,” which abuts the property Schererville’s demographics affected what the new park might include Youth sports facilities won’t serve all ages we’re kind of waiting for wetland reports and soil conditions,” Hansen said then the town will pick a design firm to come up with ideas The town formed a TIF district for that area last year but it’s so new there’s no money rolling in yet The first phase is likely to involve building something to draw the most attention Parking lots and restrooms will be needed in the first phase Hansen said there will be public outreach on funding including seeing if sponsors can help pay for these improvements “Our taxes are very low in comparison to everyone else The town’s fifth big project is figuring out what to do with the former Luers Christmas tree farm which stretches from 91st to 101st avenues “That’s a 750-home development,” Schmitt said but it would need a sewer line extended to get it going “That probably will be the last major housing development in Schererville,” Schmitt said Schmitt expects it to be built out in the next year or two Anoe appreciates the quality of life in her town I can’t hop on a bicycle or walk anywhere outside of my subdivision without it being very dangerous,” Anoe said “I would love to see more connectivity between the trails and the neighborhoods because if I do want to ride a bike somewhere I have to load my bike up in my car and actually drive it there.” Superintendent Larry Veracco is watching the residential developments but expensive houses typically aren’t starter homes the median list price of a home in Schererville was $389,000 “Schererville doesn’t have a lot of empty spaces left,” Veracco said but not enough to boost Lake Central’s enrollment there were more than 13,000 housing units in the town Schererville could use some young families But that happens when housing stock turns over Older residents sell their homes to younger residents The town’s median age is 43.4, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 estimate and 19.6% of its more than 29,000 people are 65 and older Schererville has three of the school district’s six elementary schools John and Dyer — also known as the Tri-Town community Veracco is focused on Lake Central’s next school referendum hoping to keep the additional money taxpayers had previously voted to give the district to meet operating costs when debt from construction at the high school rolls off the books his successor might consider some construction work in Schererville The district owns vacant land in Schererville waiting to see if it will be needed for a new facility Veracco has a specific vision for the school district “We value contributing to the overall quality of life in the community,” he said We want to make sure we’re staying relevant and providing the best education we can for our students to help them in their careers and serve the business community.” Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine You must be logged in to post a comment Copyright © 2025 Northwest Indiana Business Magazine | an imprint of Linker Media Group, Inc | Company logos provided by Logo.dev SCHERERVILLE — The Town Council approved a rezoning Wednesday that clears the way for a $20 million to $25 million Family Express redevelopment of the former Von Tobel site on U.S The Valparaiso-based retailer plans to build an 8,000-square-foot convenience store gas station and restaurant at the high-profile corner of U.S a busy intersection that's already home to two other gas stations The rest of the former building supply and lumber store will be turned into medical and retail space The council voted 4-1 to allow the development The Schererville Board of Zoning Appeals had previously voted 5-0 to send an unfavorable recommendation on the project to the council Family Express representatives said they would work with the town during the Plan Commission approval process to design the site in such a way as to minimize traffic congestion Schererville's zoning allows gas stations and other commercial uses at the site has gas stations at many of the intersections along the heavily trafficked U.S But Schererville also has overlay districts that give it more control over what gets built as well as over the design standards of new developments along U.S 30 overlay district does not allow automotive service centers Town officials interpreted the ban on automotive service centers to apply to Family Express's proposed gas station saying a Family Express convenience store would not fall within the commonly accepted meaning of that term "It's a convenience store that sells gasoline," he said "It doesn't change tires or transmission fluids It does not provide any automotive services that would meet the definition of that term." which has more than 60 locations across Indiana plans to build what it dubs the "world's largest Family Express" at the site or about 2,000 square feet more than the design of stores it's currently building offering more retail floor space and a larger Cravin's to Order restaurant It would be part of a larger 60,000-square-foot development that would potentially also include a large medical business or a mix of medical and retail businesses Wieser estimates the convenience store will only take up about 18% of the site while 82% would be occupied by other businesses Family Express plans to tear down the former lumber yard building to give the intersection a less industrial feel A few residents expressed concerns at the council meeting about traffic at the site that Cline Avenue should have been expanded beyond two lanes there years ago that there are long waits to get though the traffic light on U.S 30 and that a convenience store would only add to the traffic He said he would have liked Family Express to present a plan for how it will mitigate traffic congestion at the site to the council since it does not get another vote after a project goes to the Plan Commission Wieser said Family Express will work with the town on the design to ensure that the gas station is safe to get in and out of and to minimize the impact on traffic He said it is less likely to add much new traffic as to redirect some of the traffic already passing through including to the other gas stations at the corner Family Express officials believe many of the customers will turn south into the convenience store off U.S 30 before heading on Cline Avenue to subdivisions further south reducing the amount of eastbound traffic entering the intersection "The only difference is this will be higher end make more money and pay more real estate taxes This is going to be an investment of $20 million to $25 million This is a local businesses locally founded in Northwest Indiana Town Councilman Tom Schmitt said he never sees more than six to eight cars at any gas station in town at any given time As I see it this is a pretty low key development with possible medical or maybe other office use," he said "It's a better development than what could be there They want to make a $20 million investment in our town at one of the most prominent intersections in town It's also a prime spot near the bike trail where people could stop to grab a drink entrances and road design will get worked out at the planning commission I have confidence in my planning commission." who often uses the nearby Erie Lackawanna Trail said trail users would benefit from the Cravin's to Order restaurant with an outdoor seating area which bills itself as "Chicago’s Original Italian Beef," is opening a second location in the Region The Berwyn-based chain is building a new restaurant next to Family Express on Silhavey Road in Valparaiso the principal at Merrillville-based Commercial In-Sites Buona Beef was recently named one of Chicagoland’s favorite Italian Beef places along with Al’s Buona Beef has been around for more than four decades but has expanded more aggressively in recent years opening locations across Chicagoland and franchising to owner-operators It’s had high-profile sponsorships of the Cubs and White Sox including the Buona Beef races pitting the fleet-footed and not-at-all-plodding Cheesy Beef Juicy Beef and Hot & Sweet Beef in an all-out mad dash to the finish line on the exploding scoreboard at Guaranteed Rate Field It took over the former Krispy Kreme location on Indianapolis Boulevard in Schererville in 2017 Buona also eyed a Crown Point location in Beacon Hill that has not come to fruition It’s the second largest Italian Beef chain in Chicagoland after only Portillo’s Buona is building a new restaurant at 2910 John Howell Drive Valparaiso Building and Code Enforcement Director Vicki Thrasher said Construction of the 4,700-square-foot restaurant is estimated to cost $833,780 “The builder is Keystone Planning & Design,” she said “I am not sure when construction will be completed.” pepper and egg sandwiches and other Chicago street food The menu has expanded in recent years to include bowls and vegan plant-based versions of its signature Italian Beef red with marinara sauce or the Buona Way in which it’s doused in gravy with an extra spoonful splashed on top For more information, visit buona.com The bakery previously served up freshly baked bread just off the Old Lake County Courthouse square in downtown Crow Point But it closed during the pandemic and was replaced by the Sakura KJ Sushi & Hibachi Steak House Great Harvest had a location at the intersection of Ridge Road and Hohman Avenue in Munster signed a lease to open a new location at 10420-10430 Broadway in the Crown Village East development at Summit and Broadway Lasser said it’s the hottest area in Northwest Indiana right now for new retail development due to the population growth in Crown Point and neighboring Winfield as well as the nearby Interstate 65 interchange Great Harvest is a Montana-based chain known for breads like its Honey Whole Wheat an ancient Egyptian grain bread made with honey and salt Great Harvest will be located at the end of a strip mall and have a drive-thru which recently bought the franchise rights to Northwest Indiana “I’m extremely excited for them as this is a great location and one of the few drive-thrus available in Northwest Indiana,” said Brett McDermott of Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial “The community has anxiously been waiting for Great Harvest to return and the Smiths are excited to get their doors open and offer their wonderful products to our residents.” Great Harvest will open a bakery and cafe sometime this summer serving breads that are milled and baked daily like its signature Cinnamon Chip Bread soups and a variety of seasonal and specialty breads in addition to the signature staples that will be available daily The bakery also will do catering and wholesaling “We have been looking for the right business opportunity for a few years When we found Great Harvest and saw their mission and values we knew that this was exactly what we wanted to build and grow in our community,” said Elise Smith The Smiths plan to open more Great Harvest locations in Northwest Indiana in the coming years For more information, visit greatharvestnwi.com Jennilynn’s Gluten Free Kitchen is now serving gluten-free food out of The Lincoln Kitchen in Valparaiso It will eventually offer takeout and delivery at the ghost kitchen facility billed as a “digital food court” at 704 Silhavy Road People can currently pick up cinnamon rolls when it takes over a coffee shop space at the entrance to the business GrubHub and other third-party delivery services People can currently order online and come in and pick the food up “It’s gluten-free for people who have to eat that way,” owner Jennifer Coen said “Everything is baked or made as close to traditional baking as possible with eggs vegan and non-dairy items for people who are allergic to dairy.” to the point where her doctor advised her to carry an EpiPen in case she went into anaphylactic shock So she set out to bake for people suffering the same condition She’s working on a variety of menu items like breakfast sandwiches She sees a growing need for more gluten-free fare where there’s an autoimmune reaction because the digestive process can’t break down the protein in wheat “More and more people are discovering they have it or are allergic to it.” Jennilynn’s Gluten Free Kitchen also will have coffee It will operate a kitchen in the back for making gluten-free foods for pickup and delivery that’s not shared with anyone else to prevent cross-contamination It also soon will have a coffee shop at a counter by the entrance where walk-in traffic can grab a caffeinated drink or a quick meal to-go “This is a place to come to get a treat,” she said “A lot of the gluten-free food in grocery stores is nasty cupcakes and other baked goods made from scratch.” She hopes to eventually sell her goods at mom-and-pop places across the United States and Whole Foods Supermarkets She’s working to eliminate all artificial flavors and colorings to meet Whole Foods’ rigorous standards “It would benefit people with different illnesses that prevent them from eating gluten,” she said “But I hope it’s food people can just enjoy for the taste of it if they give it a shot There’s a lot of people with something wrong with them where they can’t digest gluten and I believe there’s 100% a need for it.” Coen started the Facebook Group NWI & Beyond… Gluten Free Living where people can talk about their diets share recipes and voice their opinions of gluten-freed foods “good She’s also working to copyright the slogan “Gluten-Free Yummies Satisfying Tummies.” “Gluten conditions are not going away,” she said “This gives people something enjoyable to eat that’s safe with no cross-contamination.” For more information, email jennilynnsglutenfree@gmail.com, find Jennilynn’s Gluten Free Kitchen or vist thelincolnkitchen.com The Super Bowl bowling alley closed near downtown Crown Point late last year and soon will be replaced with a new office development Bowlers rolled in the old-school lanes there for decades often while nursing a cold one from the Final Frame bar “After 25 years of being in service to the Crown Point community we have decided to close our doors,” the owners posted on social media “We want to thank the Crown Point community for their support all these years The countless families that celebrated birthdays and special occasions with us the businesses that allowed us to host their events the schools for letting us be a destination for fun trips and summer gym preschools and different groups and organizations that we have had the pleasure of creating and hosting events with.” “To the youth league coaches and many league staff volunteers we appreciate you helping bring up the next generation of bowlers that went on to our Crown Point high school and middle school bowling teams and to the boys and girls thank you for keeping this sport alive,” the owners posted on social media “Most importantly we would like to thank our staff over these many years We have had some amazing people come through our doors for some it was the first job they ever had None of this would have been possible without all of you and we are honored that we had the chance to be a part of all of your lives.” If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com Family Express plans to open the world's largest Family Express at the former Von Tobel site The Schererville Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously this week to not recommend a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project at the forme… A rendering of the prosed Family Express is shown A plan by Northwest Indiana retailer Family Express to redevelop the former Von Tobel site on U.S The Schererville Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously last week to send an unfavorable recommendation to the Town Council for the multimillion-dollar redevelopment project at the former lumber and hardware store at 751 E "We find out that Von Tobel is closing its doors It's been a staple in Schererville for a long time and business is business and the market dictates that and that's understood," board member Rick Calinski said as a community we should always be in a major rush to see redevelopment happen Let's let the market maybe figure out what's possible and see what happens." a chain of convenience stores and gas stations hopes to open an 8,000-square-foot store at the site while bringing in other retail or medical tenants to occupy the bygone big-box store The retailer touted it as "the world's largest Family Express." It would be about 2,000 square feet larger than newer Family Express stores with more retail floor space and a larger Cravin's To Order restaurant Family Express' new design for stores is about 6,000 square feet Family Express has been in talks with two different health care systems about opening a medical facility at the site and also could bring in more retail to fill the empty 60,000-square-foot building Von Tobel left behind He said he wanted to transform the corner so it would have a less industrial look with a lumber yard and would have upscale retail and medical uses that would be more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood who represented Family Express at last week's Board of Zoning Appeals meeting given that there are already two Luke gas stations at that intersection that there are many gas stations and significant traffic all along U.S He said there was very little remonstrance at the meeting just three people who raised concerns about the potential traffic "Any business you put there will draw traffic," Wieser said "It would be comparable traffic to any other business to that location something else would go there that would draw traffic." The project will go before the Schererville Town Council for consideration Calinski said he wasn't opposed to the idea of Family Express opening there "But it's just a question of we hear a lot about traffic and is that the best potential use for that development in that corner in that community I think that's something we have to think about They're elected to make a decision," Calinski said we get one time here to look at redevelopment of that site." NWI Business Ins and Outs: Tethan's Candy & Confections Next Level Events and Duneland Pottery open NWI Business Ins and Outs: Jet's Pizza and vegan restaurant open; Chase Bank closes; Crown Point Toys and Collectibles moves The United Steelworkers union was told not to expect any changes after Nippon Steel buys U.S Steel for $14.9 billion but still has many unanswered questions including how committed the new owner is to making steel in America The United Auto Workers union and Allison Transmission reached a tentative deal that includes average wage growth of 38.6% over the next five years People will get the chance to weigh in on NIPSCO's proposed natural gas rate hike of 10.6% we've compiled all of Tuesday's stories for readers to get all the latest on Region news The Schererville Town Council approved a rezoning that clears the way for a $20 million to $25 million Family Express redevelopment of the for… is concerned with the actions of his fellow councilmembers Schererville will reopen its request for proposals (RFP) for the development of a vacant city-owned property just west of town hall on Joliet Street after developers told the town they needed to revise their plans was assembled from six parcels purchased separately by the town over roughly two decades the Schererville Town Council voted to sell the property to the owners of Dyer's Little Italy for $245,000 The restaurant's owners had submitted plans for a two-story development combining condominiums on the top floor with retail businesses and a new Little Italy location on the ground level that as they have moved ahead with planning work and cost analyses "We realized that to go forward with the mixed-use— meaning condos above restaurant and retail— just wasn't financially a good idea for us," Little Italy co-owner Theresa Easterday told The Times The developers are now eyeing a one-story development with the same restaurant and retail space they will need to succeed in another round of project bidding the council voted to refund a $24,500 surety paid by the developers Schererville Director of Operations Andrew Hansen said that the town will issue a new RFP for the development later this month Condominiums were a requirement for preliminary plans submitted for the first RFP but will be made optional in the second round Hansen told the Times that the town was happy to accommodate the change "I think more people were excited to get a restaurant in here," he said "I don't think that really affects the outcome of what we're looking for." The town council also voted to increase its expenditure on a previously approved contract with Reardon Consulting Services and American Structurepoint Inc for design work on the redevelopment of the disused Iliana Motor Speedway The town will spend an additional $7,500 on the work bringing the contract's total cost to $95,000 The site was purchased by Schererville later that year with plans to turn it into a mixed-use outdoor recreation complex The extra funds approved by the council on Monday will go towards the expansion of design work to include plans for Rohrman Park Plans for the site will be informed by a community survey conducted in 2023 "We're focusing on some of the primary or top items," Reardon Consulting president Pat Reardon told The Times Looking at the possible installation of a ball field on the existing field of dreams south of the track looking at possibly expanding the soccer area to include more soccer fields and accommodating the football also." Reardon said that after two to four months of work he will present the town council with three separate designs outlining possible uses of the racetrack property These mockups will inform the town's decision on what to build on the roughly 60-acre site Monday's meeting also saw the town council take steps to advance Schererville's ongoing Kennedy Avenue expansion project The body voted to spend a total of just under $889,000 on land acquisitions a temporary easement and the reimbursement of a pipeline operator whose lines will be impacted by road work The town plans to widen and resurface roughly 2.46 miles of Kennedy Avenue between Main Street and U.S A rendering of the new Family Express is shown Family Express will redevelop the Von Tobel site in Schererville 30 and Cline in Schererville before consolidating in Valparaiso 30 in Schererville after 28 years in late November to consolidate its operations in Valparaiso but the high-profile spot on one of Northwest Indiana's busiest highways didn't stay vacant for long Family Express swooped in to buy the former lumber and hardware store at 751 E The Valparaiso-based chain of convenience stores and gas stations plans to open its largest Family Express at the site It will anchor a larger 60,000-square-foot retail development that also will include additional retail Family Express plans to build an 8,000-square-foot store with a much larger Cravin's To Order sandwiches and other freshly prepared foods "This is a transformation of a corner that has an industrial feel use and look," Family Express Founder and President Gus Olympidis said "This is more compatible with the neighborhood Family Express plans to tear down a 15,000-square-foot building on the Von Tobel site that sold building materials to contractors "In order to be able to transform this essentially industrial facility we had to sacrifice one of the buildings to the west," he said "The removal of the building will increase parking and visibility from U.S 30 and result in a metamorphosis of this corner from the start of the sort of industrial look to upscale retail and medical The industrial building to the west is mostly lumber storage It's open storage for construction materials." The rest of the property will be extensively overhauled "There's a fine line between remodeling and completely redoing Family Express also is developing a new store just off U.S John and was looking to expand its presence in the Tri-Town The highly trafficked and highly visible intersection of U.S "We loved the demographic concentration there," he said They fall in love with Family Express milk or Cravin's To Order fast food products We'll dramatically increase our food service." Family Express is investing millions of dollars to redevelop the six-acre site It hopes to break ground in a few months and already has been in talks with prospective tenants it may share the space with "We want to change the culture of that corner and its industrial feel," he said "Von Tobel did a wonderful job to keep it orderly and clean but it was lumber and building supplies We're going to change the feel and look of it We have a good relationship with Von Tobel and have partnered with them before When we found out what was going to happen we looked at a development that would change the feel of the space." which also has locations in Michigan City and Lafayette moved most of its Schererville employees to its Valparaiso store at 256 S where it said the construction business migrated to Olympidis said Family Express usually doesn't do larger development projects that involve more than just building its own stores on a site but said this site was so large that it just made sense "We don't have a final decision for the other end users The facades may be altered to accommodate the final mix of retail and medical users "We'll develop sites on a case-by-case basis We're always looking at markets where we belong and prestige locations to bring our brand to 30 in Schererville after 28 years and moved the operations to Valparaiso Family Express is expanding across the state with a new store design A local police officer was injured and five Illinois residents arrested after an unruly crowd allegedly fought with police during a disturbance Monday night at the local Up Your Alley entertainment center SCHERERVILLE — A local police officer was injured and five Illinois residents arrested after an unruly crowd allegedly fought with police during a disturbance Saturday night at the local Up Your Alley entertainment center Two police officers working security at the business - located at 1048 Indianapolis Blvd A group of customers were asked to leave the business due to their behavior When the group ignored orders by police to quiet down and leave "As officers were attempting to take one of the subjects involved into custody the entire crowd began surrounding the officers on scene," according to police multiple subjects from the party began actively fighting with the officers on scene." Police used a stun gun on one of the people during the struggle and an officer suffered minor injuries on two counts of battery against a public safety official rioting causing property damage of at least $750 rioting and two counts of disorderly conduct was also arrested and faces criminal counts of battery against a public safety official and faces charges of battery against a public safety official was also reportedly arrested and faces criminal counts of battery against a public safety official and faces criminal counts of battery against a public safety official Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter But there's no longer any "in here" left around here for what was long one of America's most prominent casual dining chains TGI Fridays abruptly closed last week in Schererville in an end of an era 41 in Schererville was the last remaining TGI Fridays in Northwest Indiana after the Hobart restaurant closed in 2021 and the Valparaiso location shuttered in 2022 We truly appreciate our loyal guests and it has been our pleasure serving you," a sign on the door says we have made the hard decision to close this TGI Fridays restaurant thank you for your patronage over all these years We hope to serve you at one of our other locations." The closest remaining TGI Fridays are in south suburban Tinley Park and Oak Lawn Dallas-based TGI Fridays was founded in New York City in 1965 Its founder Alan Stillman claimed TGI Fridays invented ladies night and potato skins and that he was the inspiration for Tom Cruise's bartender in "Cocktail." Short for "Thank God It's Friday," TGI Friday's was originally a singles bar but switched its focus to serving families in the late 1980s TGI Fridays became a nearly universal staple in suburbia along with similar casual dining chains like Applebee's and Chili's But the casual dining chains have fallen out of favor in recent years due to to changing consumer tastes and a lack of appeal to younger diners In a festive atmosphere that included red and white stripes Tiffany lamps and bric-a-brac like neon Route 66 signs TGI Fridays served traditional American cuisine like burgers As its entire restaurant category has fallen out of favor after the rise of fast-casual eateries the chain has been shuttering hundreds of locations around the country TGI Fridays closed its longtime location across from the Southlake Mall in Hobart and at 81 Silhavy Road in Valparaiso at the Valparaiso Walk outdoor shopping center TFI Fridays often ran deals like two-for-$20 entrees and endless appetizers but the restaurant chain banned it after it was mocked in the cult comedy movie "Office Space." The once-ubiquitous chain is down to just five remaining locations in Indiana It has four restaurants in Indianapolis and one in Terre Haute A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023 most beloved and most influential craft beer bars closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer A longtime staple in downtown Crown Point poured its last drink The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing The Silver Line Building Products plant at 16801 Exchange Ave Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era." David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it The 88-year-old Whiting White Castle will be remembered with displays at museums in two different states the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection Just days after reopening after city health inspectors shut it down Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months Troubled retailer Bed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago Ginuwine will trot out hits like "Pony" at Festival of the Lakes The TGI Fridays across from Southlake Mall closed after 25 years Schererville's Illiana Speedway redevelopment is moving to the design phase The town council Wednesday agreed to the hiring of American Structurepoint to complete three conceptual designs The firm was recommended by Reardon Consulting Services which has been working with the town on the project Schererville has been discussing using the former racetrack property to expand Rohrman Park's athletic facilities and add an entertainment space 30 could also be used for commercial purposes to help pay for the rest of the project the council also agreed to purchase more adjacent property The town plans to buy 3.2 acres in the back portion of 6909 West Lincoln Highway for $80,500 "We already have everything to the west of that so this is just to get a little bit more property," Town Manager Jim Gorman told council members Gorman said engineers decided to take a closer look based on the results of their phase one report Council members approved a change order for $29,135 to allow Amereco Engineering to continue with a second phase Consultant Pat Reardon says that'll ultimately help ensure public safety Schererville continues preparing for its Kennedy Avenue improvements The project will extend Kennedy Avenue to U.S expand it to four lanes between there and Main Street and install a bridge over the Canadian National and Norfolk Southern railroads The town council took another step forward last week by approving agreements with the two railroads for the first two phases Director of Operations Andrew Hansen said the exact dollar amount still had to be finalized "The current estimates are approximately $1 million for both but the state statute also requires them to pay five percent of the total cost of the bridge project Plans are also moving ahead for a new central fire station The town council voted four-to-one to hire CSK Architects for design and engineering work at a cost of $375,000 electrical engineering and utility locations within the building," explained Town Manager Jim Gorman "This proposal also handles the bidding process for the project to go out to bid." Gorman said civil engineering and site utilities will be done by an in-house engineer The new fire station will be located downtown on Joliet Street Starbucks will soon be brewing coffee in Schererville, IN with their second location. The popular coffee chain has recently executed a lease at 1902 US Highway 41, immediately adjacent to Basecamp Fitness on the Drive-thru endcap Brett McDermott of Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial represented the Landlord in the lease negotiations. “Starbucks had been looking for some time for an additional Schererville location and this works perfectly for them The unit was previously occupied by a coffee user so they were able to utilize some of the infrastructure They are a great fit for the already strong tenant mix in the center and now brings it to 100% occupied.” SCHERERVILLE — Two Lake County lawmakers are hosting a town hall-style meeting Saturday to update their constituents on the work of the 2025 Indiana General Assembly just after the midpoint of the Legislature’s annual session are scheduled to talk about their work at the Statehouse and solicit feedback about issues facing Northwest Indiana and the Hoosier State John Township Trustee and Community Center "I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions and discuss relevant issues with their state legislators," Slager said "This is a time to reflect on the first half of the session and get local feedback on how to better serve our community in the second half." Proposed new laws approved by the Senate began to be considered by the House last week and House-endorsed legislation was taken up in the Senate as Hoosier lawmakers continue working toward their statutory April 29 adjournment deadline "Meeting with our local community is incredibly important especially at this point in session," Dernulc said "We want to hear feedback on everything happening at the Statehouse and how we can better serve our community." "I look forward to the constructive conversations we will have and the information and opinions we can bring back to the Statehouse for the second half of session." Experience: State representative since 2018; retired Cook County Committees: Elections and Apportionment (ranking member); Environmental Affairs; Family Children and Human Affairs; Natural Resources Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner Committees: Government and Regulatory Reform; Roads and Transportation (ranking member); Ways and Means Experience: State representative since 2018; attorney Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development; Financial Institutions; Government and Regulatory Reform (ranking member) Experience: State representative since 2006; aviation safety consultant Committees: Roads and Transportation; Utilities Experience: State representative since 2018; retired small business owner Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Environmental Affairs; Natural Resources (ranking member) Experience: State representative since 2008; financial solutions associate Small Business and Economic Development; Employment Labor and Pensions (ranking member); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Experience: State representative since 2014; farmer Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development (chairman); Commerce Small Business and Economic Development; Environmental Affairs Experience: State representative since 2020; small businessman Committees: Financial Institutions (ranking member); Roads and Transportation; Ways and Means Experience: State representative since 1990; education professor at Indiana University Northwest Committees: Education (ranking member); Local Government Committees: Financial Institutions; Rules and Legislative Procedures (vice chairman); Ways and Means Experience: State representative since 2022; farmer Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Environmental Affairs (vice chairman); Utilities Experience: State representative 2014-2018 Small Business and Economic Development (vice chairwoman); Family Children and Human Affairs; Rules and Legislative Procedures Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Roads and Transportation (chairman); Utilities Experience: State senator since 2022; project manager Committees: Environmental Affairs; Local Government; Pensions and Labor; Public Policy Committees: Appropriations; Insurance and Financial Institutions (ranking member); Judiciary; Tax and Fiscal Policy Experience: Former Gary councilman; arts educator Committees: Commerce and Technology; Elections; Family and Children Services; Homeland Security and Transportation (ranking member); Public Policy (ranking member); Utilities; Veterans Affairs and the Military (ranking member) Experience: State senator since 2021; attorney Committees: Appropriations; Corrections and Criminal Law (ranking member); Ethics (vice chairman); Judiciary (ranking member); Pensions and Labor; Rules and Legislative Procedure Experience: State senator since 2007; attorney Committees: Appropriations; Health and Provider Services (chairman); Homeland Security and Transportation; Rules and Legislative Procedure; Veterans Affairs and the Military state representative 2012-14; small business owner Committees: Environmental Affairs (chairman); Local Government; Tax and Fiscal Policy Experience: State senator since 2016; consultant Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law; Health and Provider Services; Local Government Spotlight 219 is presented by The Times Media Company and Local 219 We explore what is happening around Northwest Indiana "We want Indiana to be on the leading edge of energy opportunity and innovation," said Republican Gov Attorney General Todd Rokita has rescinded his threat to sue the Lake County Sheriff's Department over its alleged refusal to cooperate with i… Approximately 43% of the 385,000 flag votes submitted online since January favored keeping Illinois' flag as it is State lawmakers are advancing a plan to end Indiana's tradition of nonpartisan school board races and to instead subject school board candidat… Braun issued two executive orders directing state agencies to refrain from promoting "modern gender ideology" and demanding a report on t… The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs director has a statutory obligation to supervise all county veteran service officers "I'm looking forward to collaborating with Governor Braun and his team and I feel like we're going to get someplace really go… "I believe employers should do everything they can to accommodate the needs of new parents," Gov The Lake County Prosecutor's Office on Saturday approved nine felony counts against Emmanuel Davies II He now faces four counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon and four counts of intimidation He has also been charged with one count of pointing a firearm Lake County Sheriff's Police SWAT team members were called out Tuesday morning to Gary to execute search warrants related to a possible drug and prostitution ring SCHERERVILLE — A man who allegedly aimed his rifle at police officers and caused a SWAT team standoff Thursday now faces nine felony charges was arrested Thursday afternoon in the 1800 block of Orchard Court Schererville police said Davies had been walking around screaming and stabbing garbage cans in the area of Springvale Drive and Orchard Court just south of U.S He had gone inside his house before officers got there When police arrived and approached the man's house Davies was standing in the doorway with a rifle trained on the officers One officer fired at least one shot at Davies Police said they immediately evacuated nearby houses and called in the Northwest Regional SWAT Team "After talks with a Crisis Negotiator were successful Davies exited his residence and was taken into custody without further incident," Schererville police said The Lake County Prosecutor's Office on Saturday approved nine felony counts against Davies Level 5 felonies carry a possible sentence of one to six years in prison while Level 6 felonies are capped at two-and-a-half years Riding Shotgun with Griffith Police Officer Cynthia Torres The victim was taken to Franciscan Health in Michigan City to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries Body camera and drone videos show a man violently attacking an undercover officer with a knife The video cuts off before a second officer fat… An autopsy revealed the man died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma and the manner of death was confirmed to be an accident "We urge drivers to plan accordingly and seek alternative routes to avoid delays," Gary police said in a statement more than 850 Valparaiso residents were affected by the outage according to the electric company's online outage dashboard Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute opened its third urgent care location in the Region after consistent growth at its other two offices Lincoln Highway will offer walk-in services “The reason we do this is that it provides a faster more convenient and less expensive avenue for patients to access our services,” said Jason Wolf physician assistant and director of Orthopedic Urgent Care at LBJI He said between 1,300 and 1,500 patients are cared for a month at the Portage and Crown Point locations combined “We’ve gotten (patients) in to see the surgeons much faster than they would otherwise get in from the emergency room,” he said a trip to an Orthopedic Urgent Care usually is billed as an office visit “I think that we help cut out the middleman and we give our patients more direct access to the surgeons in the area,” Wolf said Wolf did say the centers are not a replacement for the emergency department at hospitals because they do not treat head or chest injuries “I think that we provide a very good and necessary service to the community.” Other Northwest Indiana locations are at 3691 Willowcreek Road in Portage and 500 E. 109th Ave. in Crown Point. Learn more about their services here April – May 2025 Download PDF of issue Publisher's Note, Current Issue: In this issue Around the Region, Current Issue: Professional advancement Best of Business Awards, Current Issue: 2025 Awards Current Issue, Small Business: Fearless entrepreneurs Construction, Current Issue: Controlling costs Current Issue, Tourism & Recreation, Meetings & Events: Bonding experiences The Future of, Current Issue: Goshen: ‘Unlike anywhere else’ Current Issue, Economic Development: ‘Future of energy is bright’ Business Profile, Current Issue: Mno-Bmadsen: Tribal investments Leader Profile, Current Issue: Lifetime of connections Current Issue, Off Hours: A vision for plants Current Issue, Career Path: Matt Lambert: On a Y mission Making a Difference, Current Issue: Health Foundation of La Porte Viewpoint, Current Issue: Let go of goals — just be A Victoria's Secret & PINK by Victoria's Secret has opened in Schererville clothing and cosmetics store opened earlier this month in the Town Square Shopping Center 124 U.S Victoria's Secret is taking over part of the space formerly occupied by Bed Bath and Beyond in the outdoor shopping center at the southwest corner of Indianapolis Boulevard and Main Street across from Shops on Main in Schererville and catty-corner from the Highland Grove Shopping Center It's occupying 6,750 square feet of the former Bed Victoria's Secret has been a staple of malls like the Southlake Mall in Hobart and the River Oaks Center in Calumet City it has been the largest lingerie retailer in the country since the early 1990s when it eclipsed $1 billion in annual sales Known for its Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows and runway models it calls angels it now pulls in more than $11.8 billion in revenue Victoria's Secret grew to more than 1,000 stores but has shrunk its footprint in recent years due to increased competition and consumer demand for more variety in sizes and for athleisure ware Still the largest lingerie retailer in the country For more information, call 219-227-3448 or visit victoriassecret.com Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly furniture store opening; closings include Jelly Barnes & Noble will return to Lake County Barnes & Noble is opening five new Chicago area locations Barnes & Noble is returning to Lake County