Beloved bakery closes 2 locations in same city but there’s hope as shoppers say they’ll ‘suffer through traffic issues’

A popular Indianapolis bakery is permanently closing two locations, but there’s good news for shoppers.

While Rise’n Roll Bakery may be closing two of its popular Indianapolis locations, a new store is in the works, the company announced last week.

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The Amish-style bakery’s new location is opening in Hamilton County, although the chain moved out of its downtown East New York Street location this weekend.

Rise’n Roll’s Broad Ripple location will also be closing because it is so close to the chain’s new store in Nora.

The bakery said fans can expect the new store to open in mid to late October.

The move was ultimately inspired by a mix of factors, but changing foot traffic patterns forced the chain to rethink its most ideal locations.

“The store’s move downtown was influenced by the changing landscape of downtown Indianapolis, particularly the notable mass exodus of office workers from the area,” the company said, as reported by WTHR.

After opening in Nora, Rise’n Roll also expects to open a new location in either Carmel or Westfield as it is “actively discussing potential locations.”

“The moves are tactical,” Casey McGaughey, president of MCL Restaurant and Bakery, told The Indy Star. “With the relocation of downtown to Nora and given Broad Ripple’s proximity to the new location, it makes sense to consolidate and target the north for our next store.”

Since the news was announced, shoppers have been holding out hope that the next store openings will impact their neighborhood.

“We have our fingers – and toes – crossed that Rise N Roll will open their next store in WESTFIELD!!,” one fan wrote in an op-ed for the Indianapolis Business Journal. “Your donuts are great, but cookies are even better!”

Others were skeptical about the chain’s concrete measures in the region.

“I’m excited to have Rise N Roll in Nora closer to me,” said another customer.

“However, I would like to note that the redeveloped mall they are moving into on the south side of 86th Street has terrible entrances and exits. In this respect, they are unlikely to gain much from the difficult situation at Westfield. Of course, if their baked goods are good enough, people will suffer from the traffic problems.”

A young Amish couple originally opened Rise ‘n Roll Bakery in 2001 as a front porch baked goods shop.

In 2009, another family bought the business and turned it into a chain with more than a dozen stores across the state.

MORE CLOSURES

Rise’n Roll is one of many closures affecting retail and restaurants.

The mass closures were triggered by several factors, but a rise in online shopping and inflation led to a decline in store visits.

The Children’s Place has also closed its Brooklyn, New York location as the company plans to close 100 of its 600 remaining stores this year.

The chain has confirmed this will affect approximately 17 percent of its workforce.

The store had previously closed around 300 branches since 2019.

Even retail giant Walmart hasn’t been immune to changing retail dynamics – more than 20 of its stores have closed this year, with more likely to come.

In a statement, Walmart said its Chicago stores are losing “tens of millions of dollars per year, and their annual losses have nearly doubled in the last five years alone,” leading several of them to close permanently.

Meanwhile, drugstore chain Rite Aid is closing five stores in three states this month alone.

“Like all retailers, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and the wider business,” a company spokesperson said.

“The decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors, including business strategy, leasing and rental considerations, local business conditions and profitability, as well as store performance.”

Twelve stores in one location abruptly close, forcing many employees to find new jobs within a week.

Plus, see the full list of stores that closed this month as the “retail apocalypse” rages on.