As the city of Noblesville prepares to begin major improvement projects along Pleasant Street this fall, two long-standing Noblesville businesses have closed permanently.
Known as Reimagine Pleasant Street, the project is estimated to cost $115 million and will be completed in three phases, city engineer Alison Krupski said. The first phase, which spans 1.1 miles west of River Road and spans 10th Avenue, includes planning work by Hamilton County for a bridge over the White River, Krupski said.
The public will be able to see construction begin sometime in October for the first phase (estimated cost of $59 million). Krupsky said the project was created over many years.
“The main goal of this project is to connect East to West,” she said. “The city really needed another White River crossing aimed at easing traffic through downtown Noblesville.”
But stores near the intersection of 10th and Pleasant streets, such as Mexican restaurants El Camino Real and Dairy Queen, will have to acquire the land where the eatery was located for the project, the city said. so it is already closed.
Ignacio Rodriguez, who owned El Camino Real at 797 S. 10th St., said he believes the Pleasant Street project will benefit the community once completed. Rodriguez did not disclose the exact amount paid for his property and asked reporters to show legal papers posted on his front door showing the city paid him $552,250. instructed to
However, Rodriguez said he was in ongoing discussions with city officials about the issue, and that it may move in the future. closed on
“We have to work together,” he said, referring to working with the city.
Rodriguez thanked his customers for their years of support, saying they have created many memories with his business.
“It’s been an honor to work in the community,” he said. “We did our best to satisfy our customers.”
Still, Rodriguez said the decision to close was difficult.
“I miss you guys,” he said.
Kathy Zeller, Dairy Queen’s General Manager, stops inside the store. Dairy Queen has been at its current location on South 10th Street in Noblesville since 1975 and closed on August 7th. (Photo by Matthew Kent)
The Dairy Queen across the street has also been a staple in the area for years, inspired by the upcoming Pleasant Street project. General Manager Cathy Zeller said it has been at its current location since 1975 and was previously located diagonally from its current location.
The long-standing business was owned by the Riesner family, which owns several other Dairy Queen franchises in central Indiana. Zeller confirmed to the city that he purchased the property at 798 S. 10th St. She didn’t know the purchase price.
Zeller said he knew Dairy Queen would be affected by the Pleasant Street project, but the timing remained unclear.
“We knew it was coming, but we didn’t know how quickly it would happen,” says Zeller.
Rumors spread that this day, which closed on August 7th, was the last business day, and a long line formed.
Zeller, who oversaw four full-time and five part-time employees, said the business had nowhere to go and eventually needed to build a new site. Dairy Queen employees affected by the closure were offered to work at other stores owned by the Liesner family, Zeller said.
Still, Zeller said the decision to close was “pretty heartbreaking” because so many families had enjoyed coming to Dairy Queen. with the message “Thank you for the memories”.
“I know the public is upset,” she said. “It’s not the business that they’re angry about, it’s the change in the whole community.”
For Zeller, Dairy Queen is a big part of her life, and as she enters her 49th year with the company in 2022, she’ll have several Reasners-owned properties in Elwood, Tipton, or Greenfield. I will be working at one of the Dairy Queens. Helen Smith, a Tipton resident who worked at the Noblesville store for three years, said she was also disappointed to see the store closed.
“It’s just sad to see it end,” Smith said.
For more information on Noblesville’s Reimagine Pleasant Street project, please visit: reimaginepleasantst.com or call 317-773-4614.
