August’s arrival marks the end of summer vacation and the start of a new school year. The ever-churning cycle of endings and beginnings is nothing new to Indy’s dining scene, which welcomed a fresh crop of eateries while saying good-bye to others last month.

For the third consecutive month, a beloved neighborhood spot said farewell after a 20-plus-year run. Meanwhile, regional chains expanded throughout the Circle City and the North Perry neighborhood received an infusion of Filipino flavor. Here are the restaurants that came and went in July — plus one to kick off August.

Restaurants that opened in July

Mambo’s Cheesesteak Grill, Salesforce Tower

111 Monument Circle Suite 120, mamboscheesesteakgrill.com, opened July 9

While the closure of City Market shuttered the original Mambo’s, the cheesesteak outfit has maintained booths at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and The AMP at 16 Tech. Last week it opened a new brick-and-mortar location in Salesforce Tower. Situated next to the recently closed Yolk location, Mambo’s brings its renowned cheesesteaks and other sandwiches to the corner of Pennsylvania and Ohio streets.

His Place Eatery

1411 W. 86th St., (317) 7990-3406, hisplaceeatery.com, opened July 10

The popular Arlington Woods soul food spot opened its second location at the corner of Ditch Road and West 86th Street in St. Vincent-Greenbriar. The menu at His Place is stuffed with smoked meats, fried fish and classic comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, candied yams and mashed potatoes.

Kyuramen x TBaar Mass Ave

530 Massachusetts Ave., (317) 961-8888, kyuramen.com, opened July 10

Kyuramen, a New York-based chain with nearly 40 locations nationally, opened its first Indiana restaurant on Mass Ave. The Japanese-American eatery sells ramen, omurice and tempura among other Asian-inspired dishes. Joining Kyruamen in the space is TBaar, a bubble tea chain with over 40 United States locations.

Yollie’s Filipino American Kitchen

4141 S. East St., (317) 455-5123, yolliekitchen.com, opened July 23

The flagship restaurant of Indianapolis’ Philippine Cultural Community Center, Yollie’s brings traditional Filipino flavors to the Circle City. Dishes like tangy chicken adobo, peanut butter-stewed kare kare and banana blossoms in coconut milk offer familiar flavors to Hoosier Filipinos and a chance for others try something new.

Wing Zone on Keystone

5527 N. Keystone Ave., (317) 419-3604, wingzone.com, opened July 24

The Gainesville, Florida-based chicken joint opened its first Indiana location on Keystone Avenue in Millersville. Wing Zone, which sells fried chicken, sandwiches and salads in addition to wings, has nearly 30 locations nationwide.

Java House, Simon Building

225 W. Washington St., javahouse.com, opened July 25

The Carmel-based coffee shop’s twelfth café opened on the ground floor of the Simon Building. Java House offers a variety of sweet signature lattes alongside juice, lemonade, tea, black coffee and select food items.

More coverage: Java House bringing another coffee shop to downtown Indianapolis

California Burger

2831 E. 38th St., (317) 426-3021, californiaburgerinc.com

Speedway-based California Burger’s third location opened in the Meadows neighborhood Aug. 1, serving free ice cream cones for its first six hours of operation. The smashed-patty purveyor also has a location in Castleton, which opened in summer 2021.

Restaurants that closed in July

MOTW Coffee Castleton

6706 E. 82nd St., closed early July

Carmel-based MOTW (Muslims of the World) Coffee announced the closure of its Castleton location with a note posted to the shop’s front door. The note from the MOTW staff attributed the closure to the end of the store’s lease and said the location would move to Illinois. On June 23, MOTW announced on Facebook the opening of its Naperville, Illinois location, the chain’s second in the Prairie State. MOTW still has three Indiana locations: Eagledale, Fishers and Carmel.

Rene’s Bakery

6524 Cornell Ave, closed July 14

After more than 20 years in Broad Ripple, this beloved bakery announced it “will most likely be closed indefinitely” amid owner Albert Rene Trevino’s ongoing health concerns. Rene’s opened on Cornell Avenue in 2004 and sold a variety of pastries while amassing a loyal customer base throughout its neighborhood and beyond. That community showed out in full force when Trevino’s daughter Olivia launched a GoFundMe to help pay for her father’s medical bills — the fundraiser has netted more than $85,000.

Full story: Rene’s Bakery ‘most likely’ closed after 20 years

Did we miss an opening or closing in your neighborhood? Contactdining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @bradleyhohulin.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis-area restaurants that opened and closed in July 2024

INDIANAPOLIS — For the past 25 years, North Central journalism teacher Tom Gayda has looked forward to the first day of school.

“I think it comes a little easier with knowing you know what to do on the first day,” Gayda said.

On Thursday, Gayda will join teachers in Washington, Pike, Lawrence and Franklin Townships as they embark on another school year.

Indianapolis Public Schools and Center Grove are also back in session on August 1.

“You can always kind of reinvent yourself,” Gayda shared while reminiscing on his past 24 first days. “Even at the semester, you get a little chance to change things up. Every year is a new start and that’s kind of fun.”

WATCH RELATED COVERAGE | Beech Grove students return to the classroom starting today

Beech Grove students return to the classroom starting today

Gayda is part of a teaching workforce that has seen its fair share of challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a 2022 National Education Association survey, More than 55% of educators said they were ready to leave the profession earlier than planned.

The survey claims it is largely due to teacher salaries.

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Gayda says an evolving classroom has taken it’s toll.

“It’s been a lot of a lot of change,” Gayda explained. “My grade book used to be a notebook, and now it’s instantly online. There’s good and bad with that.”

Gayda faces a new challenge as a new Indiana state law prohibits the use of cellphones in the classroom.

“I mean, everyone has got their phone in their hand,” Gayda said. “I think (the students) will live.”

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Despite the challenges that come with a new school year, the end of each summer marks an opportunity for Gayda to reconnect with his students.

“Tomorrow, it’s more about getting to see people you’ve not seen in a while and reconnect,” Gayda said. “That’s kind of a fun thing.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a show in Hendricks County Monday night, famed musician Lisa Loeb’s guitar was stolen outside the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.

Her crew was packing up after the show.

After she put out an acoustic APB on X, a local bar owner spotted a man walking in front of his establishment with the same guitar case he saw in Lisa Loeb’s post.

Joel Reitz co-owns the O’Reilly Irish Bar and Restaurant. He said he saw a ‘disheveled’ man walking on the street with the guitar case he recognized from Loeb’s post.

O’Reilly’s is on South Pennsylvania, just a few blocks away from the Conrad Hotel.

Reitz says after a drama-free conversation with the man and a couple of requests, the man gave the guitar to him.

The police picked up the guitar, as it was stolen property. Loeb later shared on Instagram that the guitar is already on the way back to her after IRC Music shipped it out.

Reitz said he wants to be a steward for the Indianapolis community.