Dana Hunsinger Benbow

dana.benbow@indystar.com

The Jimmy Buffett-inspired restaurant chain Cheeseburger in Paradise has closed three Indiana locations — including its restaurant in Fishers.

No worries, though. You won't be left without that "big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat."

The company that owns Cheeseburger in Paradise, Luby's Inc. is remodeling and rebranding some of its stores into another one of its burger concepts: Fuddruckers.

The Fishers location, 9770 Crosspoint Blvd., as well as locations in Evansville and Terre Haute will soon be home to Fuddruckers.

The only remaining Indiana Cheeseburger in Paradise, 4670 Southport Crossings Drive in Indianapolis, remains open, for now. That was the chain's original restaurant launched in 2002.

Fuddruckers isn't new to Indy. There were at least two locations operating in the city in the 1980s.

But for those unfamiliar with the concept, it revolves around a "pile it high" philosophy. In other words? Do-it-yourself topping. After cooks prepare a sandwich, the rest is up to you.

Inside all Fuddruckers are market-fresh produce bars. They are stocked "full of sun-ripened tomatoes, hand-leafed lettuce, sliced onions, dill pickles, pico de gallo, Fudds cheese sauce and lots of other fantastic fixins," the restaurant says on its website.

After opening its first location in Indianapolis 12 years ago, Cheeseburger in Paradise soon grew to 23 stores. Today, it has 11 restaurants as its brand is transformed to other Luby's concepts.

Originally, Cheeseburger in Paradise was a partnership of Buffett's company, Orlando, Florida-based Margaritaville Holdings and OSI Restaurant Partners. Buffett licensed the name and Outback Steakhouse operated the franchising of restaurants.

In December 2012, Luby's purchased the chain, ending Buffett's association with the restaurants.

Call Star reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow at (317) 444-6012. Follow her on Twitter:@danabenbow.