Retail operations at the Outpost Sports location in Mishawaka will end this month. Staff photo by Michael Caterina
Retail operations at the Outpost Sports location in Mishawaka will end this month. Staff photo by Michael Caterina
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Closing the doors

Area restaurants and stores that, since March, have closed or announced plans to close. This list is not comprehensive and includes businesses that may be closed temporarily.

  • Art Van Furniture
  • Banana Republic
  • BarBici Italian Street Kitchen
  • Blackthorn Topgolf Swing Suite
  • Bob Evans on Grape Road
  • Bounce House 
  • Cambria Boutique, moved to online only sales
  • Catherines
  • Chao Cajun
  • Cici’s Pizza on Main Street
  • Cranky Crankshaft Cafe
  • Crisler’s Kitchen
  • Disney Store
  • Doreen’s, close in two weeks
  • El Tortilla del Sol
  • Family Videos on Auten Rd., Bittersweet Rd., and Main St., to close mid-October
  • Garage Clothing 
  • Honey Baked Ham
  • Imagine That!, still open but owner retiring in Nov.
  • Jos A Bank
  • Justice
  • Kilwin’s
  • Livery in Eddy Street Commons
  • Logan’s Roadhouse on Ireland Road
  • Lucchese’s in Elkhart
  • Midwest Gun and Range in Elkhart.
  • Outpost Sports and Bikes Mishawaka retail store, close by Nov. 1
  • Pier 1
  • PKR Noodle Bar, owner said plan to reopen in new location TBD
  • Ponderosa, both Goshen and Plymouth
  • Reggio’s
  • Rosati’s Pizza, owner says temporarily due to staffing issues
  • South Bend Seamstress, announced closure in November
  • Tequilas Jalisco
  • TGI Friday’s, both Main Street in Mishawaka and Ireland Road in South Bend
  • The Emporium
  • Walking Company
Mary Shown and Ed Semmler, South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND — Just over a month ago, Hacienda Mexican Restaurant group made a difficult decision that is being faced by an increasing number of local businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic — wait it out or close and cut their losses. Jeff Leslie, president of the Hacienda group, chose the former, opting to shutter BarBici Italian Street Food in Eddy Street Commons this fall, even though he believes in the concept.

“It was a very tough decision,” Leslie said. “We were building sales there, but it was a drain on the company. COVID in a university setting was a lethal combination.”

Beyond losing much of its regular foot traffic from students and visitors, businesses throughout the region are struggling with the loss of an estimated $17 million in spending per football game at hotels, restaurants and stores.

“The sheer reality of losing football revenue and related spending is very serious,” said Rob DeCleene, executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka. “Trying to supplant that business is almost impossible.”

And beyond those games and the downturn in regular consumer spending, businesses in the region also have had to deal with the loss of a significant number of major events — like Notre Dame commencement, the RV dealer show in Elkhart and concerts by Billy Joel and George Strait.
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