Columbus, Ohio-based Rise Brands, which plans to open its 16-Bit Indy bar and arcade at 110 E. New York St. next year, now says it will bring to Indianapolis its second entertainment concept, Pins Mechanical Co.

Rise Brands CEO Troy Allen told IBJ that his company is in late-stage negotiations to lease about 25,000 square feet near Massachusetts Avenue in a building that he declined to identify. The negotiations should be finalized within the next few weeks, Allen said, and assuming the project proceeds as scheduled Rise Brands would gain access to the space at the end of 2019.

Pins Mechanical Co. offers duckpin bowling, pinball machines and other activities, including league play; along with a bar. Current locations include Columbus and the Columbus suburb of Dublin, Ohio; along with a Cincinnati location that’s set to open this month. The company is also building Pins in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on 16-Bit Indy, which will occupy a portion of the retail space at The Whit, a 334-unit mixed-use apartment project by Indianapolis-based TWG Development.

Gregory Sturgeon, a TWG leasing consultant assigned to The Whit, said the 180 apartment units on the north half of the building are complete, with an occupancy rate of nearly 70 percent. The south half of the building, which will include 16-Bit, is still under construction.

Sturgeon said 16-Bit Indy is the only retail tenant so far, and TWG is still working to fill an additional 4,788 square feet of retail space that fronts Pennsylvania Street.

Allen said 16-Bit Indy will occupy about 11,500 square feet on both a ground floor and a mezzanine level. When Rise announced last fall it would open at The Whit it expected to occupy 6,690 square feet, but the addition of the mezzanine increased its space. It will include bars on both levels, more than 50 classic arcade and pinball games, a lounge for console gaming and private event space. The facility will also have an outdoor patio.

Rise Brands expects to gain access to the space in December and have 16-Bit Indy ready to open in mid-2019.

The company currently has four 16-Bit locations: Columbus, Dublin, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Besides Indianapolis, the company is building 16-Bits in Charlotte and Nashville, as well as a fourth city yet to be announced.

“We’re looking at cities that have high growth, a younger population, a solid urban core,” Allen said.

Looking further ahead, Allen said his company is also working on a quick-service restaurant concept that it hopes to launch next year. The first of the restaurants, the name for which hasn't been announced, will be in Dublin, Allen said, and the company “definitely” plans to bring the concept to Indianapolis at some point.

In other retail news this week:

— ReCraft, a second-hand shop for craft and hobby supplies, has its grand opening today at 1802 Shelby St. The 1,000-square-foot shop, at the corner of Shelby and Iowa streets, is owned by Fountain Square resident Bethany Daugherty, a life-long crafter.

“I am a classical trained violinist, but due to chronic tendinitis have decided to take a step back from teaching and playing to pursue other interests,” Daugherty told IBJ in a written message.

Here’s how Daugherty explains the shop’s concept: Customers can donate leftover or unwanted craft supplies that will then be sold at a “steeply discounted price.” Donors will receive a coupon for 10 percent off their next purchase.

The shop will include a rent-by-the-hour maker space with specialty crafting equipment and an area for workshops and classes. Daugherty said she also plans to establish a small area to sell handmade goods from local artists and artisans.



— Local women’s boutique First Harvest is expanding beyond Indianapolis. The retailer announced this week that it will open at University Park Mall in Mishawaka. First Harvest, co-owned by Matt and Kimmie Bridges, also has locations in two other Simon Property Group malls. Its Fashion Mall at Keystone location opened in December 2017, and its Greenwood Park Mall store opened this summer. The company started as an online-only retailer in August 2016.

— Several new establishments have opened—or will soon open—at area malls, according to Simon Property Group’s website:

At Castleton Square Mall, new tenants include the eatery GOBsmacked! Tavern Classics, which opened last week, as well as Grails Inc., a buy/sell/trade/consignment store for sneakers, which opened in August.

Circle Centre has two newcomers: A custom screen-printer called Fountain Square USA , which prints and sells items that include T-shirts, hats, mugs, puzzles and more; and Universal Fashions, which has its grand opening today. The opening date for Fountain Square USA isn't set.

Apparel store Abercrombie & Fitch reopens Nov. 9 at the Fashion Mall at Keystone.

