Retailer Burlington set to open this week in downtown Indianapolis – Indianapolis Business Journal

National discount retailer Burlington Stores Inc. plans to open a location in downtown Indianapolis on Friday, the retailer announced Tuesday.

The 23,000-square-foot store will take over space in the lower level of Claypool Court previously occupied by the Rhythm! Discovery Center.

IBJ first revealed Burlington’s downtown plans in March.

New Jersey-based Burlington operates more than 1,020 department stores in 46 states, including eight stores in central Indiana. The state will be home to 19 Burlington stores after the opening.

Ownership of Claypool Court, a retail and hotel center at 110 W. Washington St., said the new Burlington store should benefit from activity at the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets.

Thanks to downtown’s skywalk system, Claypool Court connects to attractions such as the Indianapolis Artsgarden, Circle Centre Mall and Indiana Convention Center.

The new store will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Burlington’s business model is based on selling brand-name products at prices significantly lower than other retailers.

The leading corporation in the discount retailer field is TJX Companies Inc., which includes the T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods brands, and is made up of more than 4,000 stores. A T.J. Maxx store, 50 N. Illinois St., is also a tenant in Claypool Court and less than a block north of the new Burlington spot.

Other retail tenants in Claypool Court are Weber Grill Restaurant, Panera Bread and steakhouse Tony’s of Indianapolis.

Rhythm! Discovery Center, an interactive drum and percussion museum, opened in the lower level of Claypool Court in 2009 and closed in March 2023 after a burst water pipe caused damage to the museum’s exhibit space. A new location for Rhythm! Discovery Center has yet to be announced.

Before the drum and percussion museum opened, Simon Property Group maintained offices at Claypool Court’s lower level for about a decade.

In the 1980s and early ’90s, Indianapolis-based clothing store L. Strauss & Co. occupied the lower level of Claypool Court.

Burlington, which traces its roots to 1924 as a wholesaler, began retailing as Burlington Coat Factory in 1972 and rebranded simply as Burlington Stores in 2014 to reflect its broader product mix.

The chain was once known for its big-box stores, with new locations averaging more than 50,000 square feet up until 2017, when it began concentrating on smaller-format outlets. By 2022, Burlington’s new stores averaged just 28,000 square feet.

The company reported fiscal 2023 sales of $9.7 billion, up 12% from the previous year, and a full-year profit of $339.6 million, up 48%.