How have small businesses fared in the midst of Fishers’ downtown Nickel Plate District new development and construction?
At least 20 small businesses in a six-block area have experienced a major disruption. Some establishments have closed, some have relocated and some are still up in the air. Together, these local businesses were the heart of downtown Fishers.
Where Are They Now? – Small Businesses in the Nickel Plate District
116th Street
- Archer’s Meats, (closed)
- Riviera Maya (relocated)
- Sharp Printing (relocated)
- Oak & Ivy Boutique (relocated)
- Mah Jongg Center (relocated)
- Square Donuts (closed)
- Nickel Plate Grill (closed)
- Roman & Leo (relocated)
- Fishers Barber Shop (relocated)
- Vardagen (closed)
Maple Street
- Stella & Nash (relocated)
- Jennifer Driscoll Photography (relocated to Noblesville)
- Blush Salon Boutique (relocated)
- Twigs & Tea (relocating)
- Jen’s Day Care at Learning Depot (closed or relocated)
- Kelsaw Music Study (closed or relocated)
- Lily & Sparrow (relocated)
- Makefresh (relocated)
Lantern Road
- Rhodes Nationwide Insurance (relocated)
- Richard Moore American Family Insurance (closed, may have relocated)
In addition to these small businesses, the Nickel Plate District has also lost excursion train rides and green space with trees. Sure, there is a ton of new development coming in. But nothing can take the place of this collection of local small businesses. They were the heart of downtown Fishers.
Additional Resources:
“8 Ways Small Businesses Help Communities”
Indiana Main Street Program
Stacey Schwarz says:
Sadly, the rent structure in downtown Fishers is too high for most small businesses. I own a small photography company where 99% of my clientele are from Fishers, but my studio is in downtown Noblesville. This is because the rent in Fishers is more than double than what it is in Noblesville. This prevents small local businesses, like myself to seek office space/retail space elsewhere. Fishers isn’t pro small business, they are pro small industry. I would love to be able to have an affordable studio in my hometown and not ask my clients to drive to Noblesville. What Fishers doesn’t realize is that by forcing small businesses like myself to go elsewhere they are also sending other money out the door as I am recommending nearby places for my clients to eat and shop after their photoshoots which again, is not in Fishers. I am just on person, but if this happening over and over again with multiple businesses doing this it will eventually negatively impact the economy of downtown Fishers.