Nucor, a major competitor to U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs, plans to invest $115 million in a new plant in Crawfordsville.
The North Carolina-based steelmaker operates a mini-mill in Crawfordsville, where it’s also investing $290 million in modernization projects that include expanded galvanizing and pre-paint lines. It’s looking to build another plant there to supply manufacturers of utility infrastructure for electric vehicles, renewable energy projects and electrification due to the soaring demand.
The mini-mill operator, which is the largest steelmaker in America by volume, estimates it will hire 200 more workers by the end of 2027.
“Nucor has been doing business in Indiana since 1972, and today we have more than 2,500 teammates working at 20 different locations across the state,” said Laurent De May, General Manager of Nucor Towers & Structures. “We are excited to build on that history with our new Towers & Structures production facility. We appreciate the support we have received from state and local officials, including Governor Eric Holcomb, Secretary of Commerce, Brad Chambers, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Montgomery County and the city of Crawfordsville.”
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Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
Nucor’s Towers & Structures business unit will build the state-of-the-art plant. Nucor added the division after acquiring Summit Utility Structures, leading it to decide to invest $270 million in two new utility structure manufacturing plants. It’s building another one in Alabama.
“Today is truly yet another exciting day for Nucor, Indiana and our state’s growing energy ecosystem,” Holcomb said.
The new plant will be located next to Nucor Steel Indiana sheet steel mill. The plant will feature a lot of automation and hot-dip galvanizing lines.
It will make structures for electrification projects, including EV charging stations, grid hardening and renewable energy projects.
Indiana lured the investment with up to $7 million in incentives contingent upon its job creation and investment plans.
“Nucor’s investment in Crawfordsville furthers Indiana’s momentum in energy storage and production,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers.
Construction is expected to begin later this year or early next year. Production will start in 2025.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan’s Pierogies updating
Open
A new pierogi concession stand at U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary has turned every Gary South Shore RailCats home game into Pierogi Fest, especially on dollar pierogi Wednesday.
The concession stand along the first base line by right field sells three potato pierogi with buttered onions and sour cream for $5 and five for $8. The large-sized pierogi are just $1 each on Wednesdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Open
It’s one of many concession options at the park, including hot dogs, Polish sausages, tacos, walking tacos and Ben’s Soft Pretzels. 18th Street Brewery, which has locations in Hammond and Gary’s Miller neighborhood, took over the former Devil’s Trumpet spot this season after that Hobart-based craft brewery closed. It offers 18th Street’s acclaimed craft beers like Candi Crushable as well as a limited food menu that includes pulled pork sandwiches.
The Dollar Pierogi Night on Wednesday is just one of many weekly promotions this season, including $5 signature cocktails for Sunday Fun-Day, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts for $15 for AYCE Mondays, $3 tacos and $5 margaritas for Taco Tuesdays and $3 domestic beers for Thirsty Thursdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Closed
Righteous Ribs closed its sit-down restaurant at The Steel Yard in downtown Gary and is now operating as a mobile barbecue business that caters to backyard barbecues and special events.
Originally from East Chicago, Righteous Ribs serves ribs, rib tips, brisket, turkey, wings and other barbecue staples. It took over the former R & R Sports Bar & Grill space in the minor league baseball stadium in 2020. It was originally home to a Bennigan’s when the Steel Yard first opened as a major downtown redevelopment project in 2002, but that national sit-down restaurant chain has long since gone out of business.
Joseph S. Pete
Renovated
Also in pierogi news, Dan’s Pierogies in downtown Highland completely renovated its dining room to have a “new, upbeat” look. The artist Ochoart did a personalized mural with the anthropomorphic pierogi that serve as the Dan’s Pierogies mascot. The wall-sized mural depicts the history of the Polish restaurant that dates back to 1998.
Joseph S. Pete
New mural
Dan’s Pierogies sells pierogies and other Polish cuisine for dine-in at 2945 Jewett Ave and also offers frozen pierogies to take home. It also does pop-ups and is especially well-known for its annual booth at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, where it draws some of the longest lines every July.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
Brown Skin Coffee will soon provide Gary with a jolt of caffeine.
The new coffee shop is located at 1921 W. 25th Ave. by the Fresh Market supermarket just off the Grant Street exit of the Borman Expressway. It will serve single-origin coffee, loose-leaf tea and wines from around the world.
A soft opening is planned for Monday, to be followed with a grand opening that will include food and drink tasting, a jazz band and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We are excited to bring the authentic experience of Brown Skin Coffee to Gary,” said Shana Tate, a Gary native and CEO of Brown Skin Coffee. “We believe that our single-original coffee, loose-leaf teas and wine will entice the appetite of greatness for the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Our goal is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience.”
She founded Brown Skin Coffee as a mobile coffee bar based out of the back of a Mini car three years ago.
The business grew and she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Brownsburg in central Indiana.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
The coffee shop aims to provide an authentic experience in a “cozy and elegant atmosphere” that gives people a place to unwind or socialize. The coffee house will hang the work of local artists on the walls, where it will be available for sale. It will have regular events throughout the week, including Wine Down Wednesday and open mic nights.
Brown Skin Coffee has a full espresso bar with drinks like a flat white, affogato and macchiato. Signature drinks include a Rolo Latte, Red Velvet Latte, Lavender Matcha Latte and Brown Sugar Babe Coffee. It prepares coffee in a number of ways, including with V60, Chemex and a French Press.
Non-coffee options include MUD/WTR and kombucha.
The cafe serves breakfast items like avocado toast, breakfast burritos, omelets, grits, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles. It also has a variety of baked goods like butter croissants, brioche bread, loaf cake and Madeleines.
Lunch options include quesadillas, air-fried Boujie Wings, a BLT wrap, a fajita wrap, a ham & swiss wrap, salads and soups like tomato basil and New England Clam Chowder.
For more information, call 219-281-2155, visit brownskincoffee.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale is coming to Winfield this summer.
The thrift and consignment store plans to open soon at 10763 Randolph St.
“My wife and I want to help people in this area,” owner Tim Koedyker said. “The first program will be for mothers and newborn babies who can’t afford things. We looked at a resale shop to be the generator for the funds.”
It’s now accepting donations at its location at the Doubletree Plaza in Winfield, in the same shopping center as the Baja Restaurant and the Strack & Van Til that was previously a WiseWay.
“We just got some demolition done and are doing painting and fixtures,” he said. “We’re hoping to be open by the end of June or the first part of July.”
The resale store will specialize in gently used clothes and household items.
“It’s used clothing for people who want something new but are OK with it being old. People don’t realize how much it saves the planet to keep these items from going to a landfill,” he said. “We can find people that could use these clothes. The cost of everything is also going up whether gas prices or food. Everything is getting more expensive so this can help the community.”
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale also will sell household items like decor and kitchenware. It will not carry larger items like appliances or furniture. People can donate household items or clothes in bags in a donation bin out in the back of the store.
“We’re going to help people afford things they normally couldn’t,” he said. “People can come in here and browse and see things that weren’t in here yesterday.”
The store is a 501(c)3-registered nonprofit that plans to pour proceeds into community causes.
“We’re talking to the township trustee to find people that do need the assistance, for baby goods or something like that,” he said. “Once our bills are paid, our rent and electrical and whatever, we plan to support nonprofit programs.”
For more information, call 219-776-2779, email info@alphafamilyresale.org, visit alphafamilyresale.org or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa Coffee Roasters & Plant Shop expanded in Hammond’s Robertsdale neighborhood and is now offering seating for the first time.
The coffee shop and plant store at 1720 Calumet Ave. just opened its outdoor patio and urban garden Saturday, and also recently added an apothecary section. It previously focused on a to-go coffee business as plants take up all the floor space inside the cafe.
It was founded last year by Jose Marin, who does the coffee roasting, and his wife, Stephanie Mora, who runs the plant store. The married couple from Los Angeles added al fresco seating and a garden on the left side of the building.
“It’s an urban oasis,” Marin said. “There’s an urban garden where people can take home a couple of tomatoes for dinner that night. We’re about providing value to the customers and community as much as possible. We’re in on the urban garden trend. People who want to grab some tomatoes or cucumbers are more than welcome to do so.”
They also will grow peppers and herbs in 12 beds.
“They’re available to taste for free,” he said. “If you want to try something out, you can pick it off the vine. We want to encourage people to eat organic and grow their own food. They can see what it tastes like right off the vine or bring some to add to a salad for dinner that night. We’ll have hanging herb gardens where people can take clippings.”
The patio also has about 16 seats at several tables. They plan to have live music, hosting different artists out on the patio throughout the summer. Upcoming events will be posted on its Instagram page.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some blues or jazz,” he said. “We’ll also host discussions of gardening, sustainability, native plants and the benefits of native plants.”
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa also recently expanded to add apothecary products.
“We have pictures and powders for moods, sleep, anxiety, pain, general illness, immunity boosting,” Mora said.
It stocks Anima Mundi goods from Brooklyn.
“They are Costa Rican and indigenous healers,” she said. “We’ve worked with this brand for awhile. They have pictures and medicine like sleep aides, to mitigate pain, for when you’re feeling sick, for anxiety or a bit of depression. They have products that help with the mind as well as cognitive health, such as with mushrooms like Reishi, Cordyceps or Lion’s Mane. They have health benefits so you don’t have to rely on just pharmaceutical medicine. They work with nature for healing like with products for gut health and detox.”
They are working to incorporate apothecary products into drinks at the coffee bar and looking to add other brands in the future.
“If you’re sick and tired of putting chemicals in the body and really don’t know or understand what’s in them you can harness the power of nature, of herbs and plants,” she said. “You can grow your own medicine from home. We’re exploring herbalist tinctures and the healing power of nature.”
Ixxa also is looking to add indoor seating, expanding its wholesale business to serve more restaurants and coffee shops and looking to offer subscription coffee packages in which people can sign up to get locally roasted coffee beans every month.
“We’re very excited to be adding the patio space,” Marin said. “We’ll be creating the same vibe and energy sitting with the plants in a kind of urban oasis.”
It recently expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 219-232-8138 or visit ixxacoffee.com.
Joseph S. Pete
219 News Now 5/19/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Unbeatable Eatables, DRIPBaR Crown Point, Taco Depot and Flashback Antiques open; Da Burger House closes
Major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital ‘a victory for East Chicago’
EAST CHICAGO — A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago.
The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment.
“Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it’s access to health care,” he said. “I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community.”
East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital’s future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana’s most populous city.
“They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued,” he said. “What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city.”
When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn’t have access to care.
“This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations,” he said. “This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It’s the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it’s right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago.”
St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities.
“St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home,” Correa said. “It’s a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease.”
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project.
It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries.
“Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology,” said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services.
St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said.
“During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care,” he said. “That did not happen by chance. That’s the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources.
“We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology.
“Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan’s Pierogies updating
Open
A new pierogi concession stand at U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary has turned every Gary South Shore RailCats home game into Pierogi Fest, especially on dollar pierogi Wednesday.
The concession stand along the first base line by right field sells three potato pierogi with buttered onions and sour cream for $5 and five for $8. The large-sized pierogi are just $1 each on Wednesdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Open
It’s one of many concession options at the park, including hot dogs, Polish sausages, tacos, walking tacos and Ben’s Soft Pretzels. 18th Street Brewery, which has locations in Hammond and Gary’s Miller neighborhood, took over the former Devil’s Trumpet spot this season after that Hobart-based craft brewery closed. It offers 18th Street’s acclaimed craft beers like Candi Crushable as well as a limited food menu that includes pulled pork sandwiches.
The Dollar Pierogi Night on Wednesday is just one of many weekly promotions this season, including $5 signature cocktails for Sunday Fun-Day, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts for $15 for AYCE Mondays, $3 tacos and $5 margaritas for Taco Tuesdays and $3 domestic beers for Thirsty Thursdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Closed
Righteous Ribs closed its sit-down restaurant at The Steel Yard in downtown Gary and is now operating as a mobile barbecue business that caters to backyard barbecues and special events.
Originally from East Chicago, Righteous Ribs serves ribs, rib tips, brisket, turkey, wings and other barbecue staples. It took over the former R & R Sports Bar & Grill space in the minor league baseball stadium in 2020. It was originally home to a Bennigan’s when the Steel Yard first opened as a major downtown redevelopment project in 2002, but that national sit-down restaurant chain has long since gone out of business.
Joseph S. Pete
Renovated
Also in pierogi news, Dan’s Pierogies in downtown Highland completely renovated its dining room to have a “new, upbeat” look. The artist Ochoart did a personalized mural with the anthropomorphic pierogi that serve as the Dan’s Pierogies mascot. The wall-sized mural depicts the history of the Polish restaurant that dates back to 1998.
Joseph S. Pete
New mural
Dan’s Pierogies sells pierogies and other Polish cuisine for dine-in at 2945 Jewett Ave and also offers frozen pierogies to take home. It also does pop-ups and is especially well-known for its annual booth at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, where it draws some of the longest lines every July.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
Brown Skin Coffee will soon provide Gary with a jolt of caffeine.
The new coffee shop is located at 1921 W. 25th Ave. by the Fresh Market supermarket just off the Grant Street exit of the Borman Expressway. It will serve single-origin coffee, loose-leaf tea and wines from around the world.
A soft opening is planned for Monday, to be followed with a grand opening that will include food and drink tasting, a jazz band and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We are excited to bring the authentic experience of Brown Skin Coffee to Gary,” said Shana Tate, a Gary native and CEO of Brown Skin Coffee. “We believe that our single-original coffee, loose-leaf teas and wine will entice the appetite of greatness for the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Our goal is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience.”
She founded Brown Skin Coffee as a mobile coffee bar based out of the back of a Mini car three years ago.
The business grew and she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Brownsburg in central Indiana.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
The coffee shop aims to provide an authentic experience in a “cozy and elegant atmosphere” that gives people a place to unwind or socialize. The coffee house will hang the work of local artists on the walls, where it will be available for sale. It will have regular events throughout the week, including Wine Down Wednesday and open mic nights.
Brown Skin Coffee has a full espresso bar with drinks like a flat white, affogato and macchiato. Signature drinks include a Rolo Latte, Red Velvet Latte, Lavender Matcha Latte and Brown Sugar Babe Coffee. It prepares coffee in a number of ways, including with V60, Chemex and a French Press.
Non-coffee options include MUD/WTR and kombucha.
The cafe serves breakfast items like avocado toast, breakfast burritos, omelets, grits, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles. It also has a variety of baked goods like butter croissants, brioche bread, loaf cake and Madeleines.
Lunch options include quesadillas, air-fried Boujie Wings, a BLT wrap, a fajita wrap, a ham & swiss wrap, salads and soups like tomato basil and New England Clam Chowder.
For more information, call 219-281-2155, visit brownskincoffee.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale is coming to Winfield this summer.
The thrift and consignment store plans to open soon at 10763 Randolph St.
“My wife and I want to help people in this area,” owner Tim Koedyker said. “The first program will be for mothers and newborn babies who can’t afford things. We looked at a resale shop to be the generator for the funds.”
It’s now accepting donations at its location at the Doubletree Plaza in Winfield, in the same shopping center as the Baja Restaurant and the Strack & Van Til that was previously a WiseWay.
“We just got some demolition done and are doing painting and fixtures,” he said. “We’re hoping to be open by the end of June or the first part of July.”
The resale store will specialize in gently used clothes and household items.
“It’s used clothing for people who want something new but are OK with it being old. People don’t realize how much it saves the planet to keep these items from going to a landfill,” he said. “We can find people that could use these clothes. The cost of everything is also going up whether gas prices or food. Everything is getting more expensive so this can help the community.”
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale also will sell household items like decor and kitchenware. It will not carry larger items like appliances or furniture. People can donate household items or clothes in bags in a donation bin out in the back of the store.
“We’re going to help people afford things they normally couldn’t,” he said. “People can come in here and browse and see things that weren’t in here yesterday.”
The store is a 501(c)3-registered nonprofit that plans to pour proceeds into community causes.
“We’re talking to the township trustee to find people that do need the assistance, for baby goods or something like that,” he said. “Once our bills are paid, our rent and electrical and whatever, we plan to support nonprofit programs.”
For more information, call 219-776-2779, email info@alphafamilyresale.org, visit alphafamilyresale.org or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa Coffee Roasters & Plant Shop expanded in Hammond’s Robertsdale neighborhood and is now offering seating for the first time.
The coffee shop and plant store at 1720 Calumet Ave. just opened its outdoor patio and urban garden Saturday, and also recently added an apothecary section. It previously focused on a to-go coffee business as plants take up all the floor space inside the cafe.
It was founded last year by Jose Marin, who does the coffee roasting, and his wife, Stephanie Mora, who runs the plant store. The married couple from Los Angeles added al fresco seating and a garden on the left side of the building.
“It’s an urban oasis,” Marin said. “There’s an urban garden where people can take home a couple of tomatoes for dinner that night. We’re about providing value to the customers and community as much as possible. We’re in on the urban garden trend. People who want to grab some tomatoes or cucumbers are more than welcome to do so.”
They also will grow peppers and herbs in 12 beds.
“They’re available to taste for free,” he said. “If you want to try something out, you can pick it off the vine. We want to encourage people to eat organic and grow their own food. They can see what it tastes like right off the vine or bring some to add to a salad for dinner that night. We’ll have hanging herb gardens where people can take clippings.”
The patio also has about 16 seats at several tables. They plan to have live music, hosting different artists out on the patio throughout the summer. Upcoming events will be posted on its Instagram page.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some blues or jazz,” he said. “We’ll also host discussions of gardening, sustainability, native plants and the benefits of native plants.”
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa also recently expanded to add apothecary products.
“We have pictures and powders for moods, sleep, anxiety, pain, general illness, immunity boosting,” Mora said.
It stocks Anima Mundi goods from Brooklyn.
“They are Costa Rican and indigenous healers,” she said. “We’ve worked with this brand for awhile. They have pictures and medicine like sleep aides, to mitigate pain, for when you’re feeling sick, for anxiety or a bit of depression. They have products that help with the mind as well as cognitive health, such as with mushrooms like Reishi, Cordyceps or Lion’s Mane. They have health benefits so you don’t have to rely on just pharmaceutical medicine. They work with nature for healing like with products for gut health and detox.”
They are working to incorporate apothecary products into drinks at the coffee bar and looking to add other brands in the future.
“If you’re sick and tired of putting chemicals in the body and really don’t know or understand what’s in them you can harness the power of nature, of herbs and plants,” she said. “You can grow your own medicine from home. We’re exploring herbalist tinctures and the healing power of nature.”
Ixxa also is looking to add indoor seating, expanding its wholesale business to serve more restaurants and coffee shops and looking to offer subscription coffee packages in which people can sign up to get locally roasted coffee beans every month.
“We’re very excited to be adding the patio space,” Marin said. “We’ll be creating the same vibe and energy sitting with the plants in a kind of urban oasis.”
It recently expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 219-232-8138 or visit ixxacoffee.com.
Joseph S. Pete
219 News Now 5/19/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Unbeatable Eatables, DRIPBaR Crown Point, Taco Depot and Flashback Antiques open; Da Burger House closes
Major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital ‘a victory for East Chicago’
EAST CHICAGO — A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago.
The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment.
“Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it’s access to health care,” he said. “I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community.”
East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital’s future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana’s most populous city.
“They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued,” he said. “What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city.”
When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn’t have access to care.
“This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations,” he said. “This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It’s the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it’s right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago.”
St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities.
“St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home,” Correa said. “It’s a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease.”
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project.
It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries.
“Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology,” said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services.
St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said.
“During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care,” he said. “That did not happen by chance. That’s the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources.
“We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology.
“Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan’s Pierogies updating
Open
A new pierogi concession stand at U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary has turned every Gary South Shore RailCats home game into Pierogi Fest, especially on dollar pierogi Wednesday.
The concession stand along the first base line by right field sells three potato pierogi with buttered onions and sour cream for $5 and five for $8. The large-sized pierogi are just $1 each on Wednesdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Open
It’s one of many concession options at the park, including hot dogs, Polish sausages, tacos, walking tacos and Ben’s Soft Pretzels. 18th Street Brewery, which has locations in Hammond and Gary’s Miller neighborhood, took over the former Devil’s Trumpet spot this season after that Hobart-based craft brewery closed. It offers 18th Street’s acclaimed craft beers like Candi Crushable as well as a limited food menu that includes pulled pork sandwiches.
The Dollar Pierogi Night on Wednesday is just one of many weekly promotions this season, including $5 signature cocktails for Sunday Fun-Day, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts for $15 for AYCE Mondays, $3 tacos and $5 margaritas for Taco Tuesdays and $3 domestic beers for Thirsty Thursdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Closed
Righteous Ribs closed its sit-down restaurant at The Steel Yard in downtown Gary and is now operating as a mobile barbecue business that caters to backyard barbecues and special events.
Originally from East Chicago, Righteous Ribs serves ribs, rib tips, brisket, turkey, wings and other barbecue staples. It took over the former R & R Sports Bar & Grill space in the minor league baseball stadium in 2020. It was originally home to a Bennigan’s when the Steel Yard first opened as a major downtown redevelopment project in 2002, but that national sit-down restaurant chain has long since gone out of business.
Joseph S. Pete
Renovated
Also in pierogi news, Dan’s Pierogies in downtown Highland completely renovated its dining room to have a “new, upbeat” look. The artist Ochoart did a personalized mural with the anthropomorphic pierogi that serve as the Dan’s Pierogies mascot. The wall-sized mural depicts the history of the Polish restaurant that dates back to 1998.
Joseph S. Pete
New mural
Dan’s Pierogies sells pierogies and other Polish cuisine for dine-in at 2945 Jewett Ave and also offers frozen pierogies to take home. It also does pop-ups and is especially well-known for its annual booth at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, where it draws some of the longest lines every July.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
Brown Skin Coffee will soon provide Gary with a jolt of caffeine.
The new coffee shop is located at 1921 W. 25th Ave. by the Fresh Market supermarket just off the Grant Street exit of the Borman Expressway. It will serve single-origin coffee, loose-leaf tea and wines from around the world.
A soft opening is planned for Monday, to be followed with a grand opening that will include food and drink tasting, a jazz band and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We are excited to bring the authentic experience of Brown Skin Coffee to Gary,” said Shana Tate, a Gary native and CEO of Brown Skin Coffee. “We believe that our single-original coffee, loose-leaf teas and wine will entice the appetite of greatness for the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Our goal is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience.”
She founded Brown Skin Coffee as a mobile coffee bar based out of the back of a Mini car three years ago.
The business grew and she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Brownsburg in central Indiana.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
The coffee shop aims to provide an authentic experience in a “cozy and elegant atmosphere” that gives people a place to unwind or socialize. The coffee house will hang the work of local artists on the walls, where it will be available for sale. It will have regular events throughout the week, including Wine Down Wednesday and open mic nights.
Brown Skin Coffee has a full espresso bar with drinks like a flat white, affogato and macchiato. Signature drinks include a Rolo Latte, Red Velvet Latte, Lavender Matcha Latte and Brown Sugar Babe Coffee. It prepares coffee in a number of ways, including with V60, Chemex and a French Press.
Non-coffee options include MUD/WTR and kombucha.
The cafe serves breakfast items like avocado toast, breakfast burritos, omelets, grits, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles. It also has a variety of baked goods like butter croissants, brioche bread, loaf cake and Madeleines.
Lunch options include quesadillas, air-fried Boujie Wings, a BLT wrap, a fajita wrap, a ham & swiss wrap, salads and soups like tomato basil and New England Clam Chowder.
For more information, call 219-281-2155, visit brownskincoffee.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale is coming to Winfield this summer.
The thrift and consignment store plans to open soon at 10763 Randolph St.
“My wife and I want to help people in this area,” owner Tim Koedyker said. “The first program will be for mothers and newborn babies who can’t afford things. We looked at a resale shop to be the generator for the funds.”
It’s now accepting donations at its location at the Doubletree Plaza in Winfield, in the same shopping center as the Baja Restaurant and the Strack & Van Til that was previously a WiseWay.
“We just got some demolition done and are doing painting and fixtures,” he said. “We’re hoping to be open by the end of June or the first part of July.”
The resale store will specialize in gently used clothes and household items.
“It’s used clothing for people who want something new but are OK with it being old. People don’t realize how much it saves the planet to keep these items from going to a landfill,” he said. “We can find people that could use these clothes. The cost of everything is also going up whether gas prices or food. Everything is getting more expensive so this can help the community.”
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale also will sell household items like decor and kitchenware. It will not carry larger items like appliances or furniture. People can donate household items or clothes in bags in a donation bin out in the back of the store.
“We’re going to help people afford things they normally couldn’t,” he said. “People can come in here and browse and see things that weren’t in here yesterday.”
The store is a 501(c)3-registered nonprofit that plans to pour proceeds into community causes.
“We’re talking to the township trustee to find people that do need the assistance, for baby goods or something like that,” he said. “Once our bills are paid, our rent and electrical and whatever, we plan to support nonprofit programs.”
For more information, call 219-776-2779, email info@alphafamilyresale.org, visit alphafamilyresale.org or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa Coffee Roasters & Plant Shop expanded in Hammond’s Robertsdale neighborhood and is now offering seating for the first time.
The coffee shop and plant store at 1720 Calumet Ave. just opened its outdoor patio and urban garden Saturday, and also recently added an apothecary section. It previously focused on a to-go coffee business as plants take up all the floor space inside the cafe.
It was founded last year by Jose Marin, who does the coffee roasting, and his wife, Stephanie Mora, who runs the plant store. The married couple from Los Angeles added al fresco seating and a garden on the left side of the building.
“It’s an urban oasis,” Marin said. “There’s an urban garden where people can take home a couple of tomatoes for dinner that night. We’re about providing value to the customers and community as much as possible. We’re in on the urban garden trend. People who want to grab some tomatoes or cucumbers are more than welcome to do so.”
They also will grow peppers and herbs in 12 beds.
“They’re available to taste for free,” he said. “If you want to try something out, you can pick it off the vine. We want to encourage people to eat organic and grow their own food. They can see what it tastes like right off the vine or bring some to add to a salad for dinner that night. We’ll have hanging herb gardens where people can take clippings.”
The patio also has about 16 seats at several tables. They plan to have live music, hosting different artists out on the patio throughout the summer. Upcoming events will be posted on its Instagram page.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some blues or jazz,” he said. “We’ll also host discussions of gardening, sustainability, native plants and the benefits of native plants.”
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa also recently expanded to add apothecary products.
“We have pictures and powders for moods, sleep, anxiety, pain, general illness, immunity boosting,” Mora said.
It stocks Anima Mundi goods from Brooklyn.
“They are Costa Rican and indigenous healers,” she said. “We’ve worked with this brand for awhile. They have pictures and medicine like sleep aides, to mitigate pain, for when you’re feeling sick, for anxiety or a bit of depression. They have products that help with the mind as well as cognitive health, such as with mushrooms like Reishi, Cordyceps or Lion’s Mane. They have health benefits so you don’t have to rely on just pharmaceutical medicine. They work with nature for healing like with products for gut health and detox.”
They are working to incorporate apothecary products into drinks at the coffee bar and looking to add other brands in the future.
“If you’re sick and tired of putting chemicals in the body and really don’t know or understand what’s in them you can harness the power of nature, of herbs and plants,” she said. “You can grow your own medicine from home. We’re exploring herbalist tinctures and the healing power of nature.”
Ixxa also is looking to add indoor seating, expanding its wholesale business to serve more restaurants and coffee shops and looking to offer subscription coffee packages in which people can sign up to get locally roasted coffee beans every month.
“We’re very excited to be adding the patio space,” Marin said. “We’ll be creating the same vibe and energy sitting with the plants in a kind of urban oasis.”
It recently expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 219-232-8138 or visit ixxacoffee.com.
Joseph S. Pete
219 News Now 5/19/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Unbeatable Eatables, DRIPBaR Crown Point, Taco Depot and Flashback Antiques open; Da Burger House closes
Major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital ‘a victory for East Chicago’
EAST CHICAGO — A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago.
The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment.
“Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it’s access to health care,” he said. “I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community.”
East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital’s future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana’s most populous city.
“They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued,” he said. “What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city.”
When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn’t have access to care.
“This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations,” he said. “This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It’s the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it’s right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago.”
St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities.
“St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home,” Correa said. “It’s a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease.”
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project.
It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries.
“Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology,” said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services.
St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said.
“During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care,” he said. “That did not happen by chance. That’s the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources.
“We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology.
“Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan’s Pierogies updating
Open
A new pierogi concession stand at U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary has turned every Gary South Shore RailCats home game into Pierogi Fest, especially on dollar pierogi Wednesday.
The concession stand along the first base line by right field sells three potato pierogi with buttered onions and sour cream for $5 and five for $8. The large-sized pierogi are just $1 each on Wednesdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Open
It’s one of many concession options at the park, including hot dogs, Polish sausages, tacos, walking tacos and Ben’s Soft Pretzels. 18th Street Brewery, which has locations in Hammond and Gary’s Miller neighborhood, took over the former Devil’s Trumpet spot this season after that Hobart-based craft brewery closed. It offers 18th Street’s acclaimed craft beers like Candi Crushable as well as a limited food menu that includes pulled pork sandwiches.
The Dollar Pierogi Night on Wednesday is just one of many weekly promotions this season, including $5 signature cocktails for Sunday Fun-Day, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts for $15 for AYCE Mondays, $3 tacos and $5 margaritas for Taco Tuesdays and $3 domestic beers for Thirsty Thursdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Closed
Righteous Ribs closed its sit-down restaurant at The Steel Yard in downtown Gary and is now operating as a mobile barbecue business that caters to backyard barbecues and special events.
Originally from East Chicago, Righteous Ribs serves ribs, rib tips, brisket, turkey, wings and other barbecue staples. It took over the former R & R Sports Bar & Grill space in the minor league baseball stadium in 2020. It was originally home to a Bennigan’s when the Steel Yard first opened as a major downtown redevelopment project in 2002, but that national sit-down restaurant chain has long since gone out of business.
Joseph S. Pete
Renovated
Also in pierogi news, Dan’s Pierogies in downtown Highland completely renovated its dining room to have a “new, upbeat” look. The artist Ochoart did a personalized mural with the anthropomorphic pierogi that serve as the Dan’s Pierogies mascot. The wall-sized mural depicts the history of the Polish restaurant that dates back to 1998.
Joseph S. Pete
New mural
Dan’s Pierogies sells pierogies and other Polish cuisine for dine-in at 2945 Jewett Ave and also offers frozen pierogies to take home. It also does pop-ups and is especially well-known for its annual booth at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, where it draws some of the longest lines every July.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
Brown Skin Coffee will soon provide Gary with a jolt of caffeine.
The new coffee shop is located at 1921 W. 25th Ave. by the Fresh Market supermarket just off the Grant Street exit of the Borman Expressway. It will serve single-origin coffee, loose-leaf tea and wines from around the world.
A soft opening is planned for Monday, to be followed with a grand opening that will include food and drink tasting, a jazz band and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We are excited to bring the authentic experience of Brown Skin Coffee to Gary,” said Shana Tate, a Gary native and CEO of Brown Skin Coffee. “We believe that our single-original coffee, loose-leaf teas and wine will entice the appetite of greatness for the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Our goal is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience.”
She founded Brown Skin Coffee as a mobile coffee bar based out of the back of a Mini car three years ago.
The business grew and she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Brownsburg in central Indiana.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
The coffee shop aims to provide an authentic experience in a “cozy and elegant atmosphere” that gives people a place to unwind or socialize. The coffee house will hang the work of local artists on the walls, where it will be available for sale. It will have regular events throughout the week, including Wine Down Wednesday and open mic nights.
Brown Skin Coffee has a full espresso bar with drinks like a flat white, affogato and macchiato. Signature drinks include a Rolo Latte, Red Velvet Latte, Lavender Matcha Latte and Brown Sugar Babe Coffee. It prepares coffee in a number of ways, including with V60, Chemex and a French Press.
Non-coffee options include MUD/WTR and kombucha.
The cafe serves breakfast items like avocado toast, breakfast burritos, omelets, grits, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles. It also has a variety of baked goods like butter croissants, brioche bread, loaf cake and Madeleines.
Lunch options include quesadillas, air-fried Boujie Wings, a BLT wrap, a fajita wrap, a ham & swiss wrap, salads and soups like tomato basil and New England Clam Chowder.
For more information, call 219-281-2155, visit brownskincoffee.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale is coming to Winfield this summer.
The thrift and consignment store plans to open soon at 10763 Randolph St.
“My wife and I want to help people in this area,” owner Tim Koedyker said. “The first program will be for mothers and newborn babies who can’t afford things. We looked at a resale shop to be the generator for the funds.”
It’s now accepting donations at its location at the Doubletree Plaza in Winfield, in the same shopping center as the Baja Restaurant and the Strack & Van Til that was previously a WiseWay.
“We just got some demolition done and are doing painting and fixtures,” he said. “We’re hoping to be open by the end of June or the first part of July.”
The resale store will specialize in gently used clothes and household items.
“It’s used clothing for people who want something new but are OK with it being old. People don’t realize how much it saves the planet to keep these items from going to a landfill,” he said. “We can find people that could use these clothes. The cost of everything is also going up whether gas prices or food. Everything is getting more expensive so this can help the community.”
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale also will sell household items like decor and kitchenware. It will not carry larger items like appliances or furniture. People can donate household items or clothes in bags in a donation bin out in the back of the store.
“We’re going to help people afford things they normally couldn’t,” he said. “People can come in here and browse and see things that weren’t in here yesterday.”
The store is a 501(c)3-registered nonprofit that plans to pour proceeds into community causes.
“We’re talking to the township trustee to find people that do need the assistance, for baby goods or something like that,” he said. “Once our bills are paid, our rent and electrical and whatever, we plan to support nonprofit programs.”
For more information, call 219-776-2779, email info@alphafamilyresale.org, visit alphafamilyresale.org or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa Coffee Roasters & Plant Shop expanded in Hammond’s Robertsdale neighborhood and is now offering seating for the first time.
The coffee shop and plant store at 1720 Calumet Ave. just opened its outdoor patio and urban garden Saturday, and also recently added an apothecary section. It previously focused on a to-go coffee business as plants take up all the floor space inside the cafe.
It was founded last year by Jose Marin, who does the coffee roasting, and his wife, Stephanie Mora, who runs the plant store. The married couple from Los Angeles added al fresco seating and a garden on the left side of the building.
“It’s an urban oasis,” Marin said. “There’s an urban garden where people can take home a couple of tomatoes for dinner that night. We’re about providing value to the customers and community as much as possible. We’re in on the urban garden trend. People who want to grab some tomatoes or cucumbers are more than welcome to do so.”
They also will grow peppers and herbs in 12 beds.
“They’re available to taste for free,” he said. “If you want to try something out, you can pick it off the vine. We want to encourage people to eat organic and grow their own food. They can see what it tastes like right off the vine or bring some to add to a salad for dinner that night. We’ll have hanging herb gardens where people can take clippings.”
The patio also has about 16 seats at several tables. They plan to have live music, hosting different artists out on the patio throughout the summer. Upcoming events will be posted on its Instagram page.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some blues or jazz,” he said. “We’ll also host discussions of gardening, sustainability, native plants and the benefits of native plants.”
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa also recently expanded to add apothecary products.
“We have pictures and powders for moods, sleep, anxiety, pain, general illness, immunity boosting,” Mora said.
It stocks Anima Mundi goods from Brooklyn.
“They are Costa Rican and indigenous healers,” she said. “We’ve worked with this brand for awhile. They have pictures and medicine like sleep aides, to mitigate pain, for when you’re feeling sick, for anxiety or a bit of depression. They have products that help with the mind as well as cognitive health, such as with mushrooms like Reishi, Cordyceps or Lion’s Mane. They have health benefits so you don’t have to rely on just pharmaceutical medicine. They work with nature for healing like with products for gut health and detox.”
They are working to incorporate apothecary products into drinks at the coffee bar and looking to add other brands in the future.
“If you’re sick and tired of putting chemicals in the body and really don’t know or understand what’s in them you can harness the power of nature, of herbs and plants,” she said. “You can grow your own medicine from home. We’re exploring herbalist tinctures and the healing power of nature.”
Ixxa also is looking to add indoor seating, expanding its wholesale business to serve more restaurants and coffee shops and looking to offer subscription coffee packages in which people can sign up to get locally roasted coffee beans every month.
“We’re very excited to be adding the patio space,” Marin said. “We’ll be creating the same vibe and energy sitting with the plants in a kind of urban oasis.”
It recently expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 219-232-8138 or visit ixxacoffee.com.
Joseph S. Pete
219 News Now 5/19/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Unbeatable Eatables, DRIPBaR Crown Point, Taco Depot and Flashback Antiques open; Da Burger House closes
Major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital ‘a victory for East Chicago’
EAST CHICAGO — A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago.
The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment.
“Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it’s access to health care,” he said. “I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community.”
East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital’s future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana’s most populous city.
“They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued,” he said. “What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city.”
When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn’t have access to care.
“This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations,” he said. “This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It’s the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it’s right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago.”
St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities.
“St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home,” Correa said. “It’s a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease.”
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project.
It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries.
“Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology,” said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services.
St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said.
“During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care,” he said. “That did not happen by chance. That’s the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources.
“We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology.
“Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan’s Pierogies updating
Open
A new pierogi concession stand at U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary has turned every Gary South Shore RailCats home game into Pierogi Fest, especially on dollar pierogi Wednesday.
The concession stand along the first base line by right field sells three potato pierogi with buttered onions and sour cream for $5 and five for $8. The large-sized pierogi are just $1 each on Wednesdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Open
It’s one of many concession options at the park, including hot dogs, Polish sausages, tacos, walking tacos and Ben’s Soft Pretzels. 18th Street Brewery, which has locations in Hammond and Gary’s Miller neighborhood, took over the former Devil’s Trumpet spot this season after that Hobart-based craft brewery closed. It offers 18th Street’s acclaimed craft beers like Candi Crushable as well as a limited food menu that includes pulled pork sandwiches.
The Dollar Pierogi Night on Wednesday is just one of many weekly promotions this season, including $5 signature cocktails for Sunday Fun-Day, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts for $15 for AYCE Mondays, $3 tacos and $5 margaritas for Taco Tuesdays and $3 domestic beers for Thirsty Thursdays.
Joseph S. Pete
Closed
Righteous Ribs closed its sit-down restaurant at The Steel Yard in downtown Gary and is now operating as a mobile barbecue business that caters to backyard barbecues and special events.
Originally from East Chicago, Righteous Ribs serves ribs, rib tips, brisket, turkey, wings and other barbecue staples. It took over the former R & R Sports Bar & Grill space in the minor league baseball stadium in 2020. It was originally home to a Bennigan’s when the Steel Yard first opened as a major downtown redevelopment project in 2002, but that national sit-down restaurant chain has long since gone out of business.
Joseph S. Pete
Renovated
Also in pierogi news, Dan’s Pierogies in downtown Highland completely renovated its dining room to have a “new, upbeat” look. The artist Ochoart did a personalized mural with the anthropomorphic pierogi that serve as the Dan’s Pierogies mascot. The wall-sized mural depicts the history of the Polish restaurant that dates back to 1998.
Joseph S. Pete
New mural
Dan’s Pierogies sells pierogies and other Polish cuisine for dine-in at 2945 Jewett Ave and also offers frozen pierogies to take home. It also does pop-ups and is especially well-known for its annual booth at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, where it draws some of the longest lines every July.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
Brown Skin Coffee will soon provide Gary with a jolt of caffeine.
The new coffee shop is located at 1921 W. 25th Ave. by the Fresh Market supermarket just off the Grant Street exit of the Borman Expressway. It will serve single-origin coffee, loose-leaf tea and wines from around the world.
A soft opening is planned for Monday, to be followed with a grand opening that will include food and drink tasting, a jazz band and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We are excited to bring the authentic experience of Brown Skin Coffee to Gary,” said Shana Tate, a Gary native and CEO of Brown Skin Coffee. “We believe that our single-original coffee, loose-leaf teas and wine will entice the appetite of greatness for the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Our goal is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience.”
She founded Brown Skin Coffee as a mobile coffee bar based out of the back of a Mini car three years ago.
The business grew and she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Brownsburg in central Indiana.
Joseph S. Pete
Opening
The coffee shop aims to provide an authentic experience in a “cozy and elegant atmosphere” that gives people a place to unwind or socialize. The coffee house will hang the work of local artists on the walls, where it will be available for sale. It will have regular events throughout the week, including Wine Down Wednesday and open mic nights.
Brown Skin Coffee has a full espresso bar with drinks like a flat white, affogato and macchiato. Signature drinks include a Rolo Latte, Red Velvet Latte, Lavender Matcha Latte and Brown Sugar Babe Coffee. It prepares coffee in a number of ways, including with V60, Chemex and a French Press.
Non-coffee options include MUD/WTR and kombucha.
The cafe serves breakfast items like avocado toast, breakfast burritos, omelets, grits, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles. It also has a variety of baked goods like butter croissants, brioche bread, loaf cake and Madeleines.
Lunch options include quesadillas, air-fried Boujie Wings, a BLT wrap, a fajita wrap, a ham & swiss wrap, salads and soups like tomato basil and New England Clam Chowder.
For more information, call 219-281-2155, visit brownskincoffee.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale is coming to Winfield this summer.
The thrift and consignment store plans to open soon at 10763 Randolph St.
“My wife and I want to help people in this area,” owner Tim Koedyker said. “The first program will be for mothers and newborn babies who can’t afford things. We looked at a resale shop to be the generator for the funds.”
It’s now accepting donations at its location at the Doubletree Plaza in Winfield, in the same shopping center as the Baja Restaurant and the Strack & Van Til that was previously a WiseWay.
“We just got some demolition done and are doing painting and fixtures,” he said. “We’re hoping to be open by the end of June or the first part of July.”
The resale store will specialize in gently used clothes and household items.
“It’s used clothing for people who want something new but are OK with it being old. People don’t realize how much it saves the planet to keep these items from going to a landfill,” he said. “We can find people that could use these clothes. The cost of everything is also going up whether gas prices or food. Everything is getting more expensive so this can help the community.”
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
Alpha Family Resale also will sell household items like decor and kitchenware. It will not carry larger items like appliances or furniture. People can donate household items or clothes in bags in a donation bin out in the back of the store.
“We’re going to help people afford things they normally couldn’t,” he said. “People can come in here and browse and see things that weren’t in here yesterday.”
The store is a 501(c)3-registered nonprofit that plans to pour proceeds into community causes.
“We’re talking to the township trustee to find people that do need the assistance, for baby goods or something like that,” he said. “Once our bills are paid, our rent and electrical and whatever, we plan to support nonprofit programs.”
For more information, call 219-776-2779, email info@alphafamilyresale.org, visit alphafamilyresale.org or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa Coffee Roasters & Plant Shop expanded in Hammond’s Robertsdale neighborhood and is now offering seating for the first time.
The coffee shop and plant store at 1720 Calumet Ave. just opened its outdoor patio and urban garden Saturday, and also recently added an apothecary section. It previously focused on a to-go coffee business as plants take up all the floor space inside the cafe.
It was founded last year by Jose Marin, who does the coffee roasting, and his wife, Stephanie Mora, who runs the plant store. The married couple from Los Angeles added al fresco seating and a garden on the left side of the building.
“It’s an urban oasis,” Marin said. “There’s an urban garden where people can take home a couple of tomatoes for dinner that night. We’re about providing value to the customers and community as much as possible. We’re in on the urban garden trend. People who want to grab some tomatoes or cucumbers are more than welcome to do so.”
They also will grow peppers and herbs in 12 beds.
“They’re available to taste for free,” he said. “If you want to try something out, you can pick it off the vine. We want to encourage people to eat organic and grow their own food. They can see what it tastes like right off the vine or bring some to add to a salad for dinner that night. We’ll have hanging herb gardens where people can take clippings.”
The patio also has about 16 seats at several tables. They plan to have live music, hosting different artists out on the patio throughout the summer. Upcoming events will be posted on its Instagram page.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some blues or jazz,” he said. “We’ll also host discussions of gardening, sustainability, native plants and the benefits of native plants.”
Joseph S. Pete
Expanded
Ixxa also recently expanded to add apothecary products.
“We have pictures and powders for moods, sleep, anxiety, pain, general illness, immunity boosting,” Mora said.
It stocks Anima Mundi goods from Brooklyn.
“They are Costa Rican and indigenous healers,” she said. “We’ve worked with this brand for awhile. They have pictures and medicine like sleep aides, to mitigate pain, for when you’re feeling sick, for anxiety or a bit of depression. They have products that help with the mind as well as cognitive health, such as with mushrooms like Reishi, Cordyceps or Lion’s Mane. They have health benefits so you don’t have to rely on just pharmaceutical medicine. They work with nature for healing like with products for gut health and detox.”
They are working to incorporate apothecary products into drinks at the coffee bar and looking to add other brands in the future.
“If you’re sick and tired of putting chemicals in the body and really don’t know or understand what’s in them you can harness the power of nature, of herbs and plants,” she said. “You can grow your own medicine from home. We’re exploring herbalist tinctures and the healing power of nature.”
Ixxa also is looking to add indoor seating, expanding its wholesale business to serve more restaurants and coffee shops and looking to offer subscription coffee packages in which people can sign up to get locally roasted coffee beans every month.
“We’re very excited to be adding the patio space,” Marin said. “We’ll be creating the same vibe and energy sitting with the plants in a kind of urban oasis.”
It recently expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 219-232-8138 or visit ixxacoffee.com.
Joseph S. Pete
219 News Now 5/19/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Unbeatable Eatables, DRIPBaR Crown Point, Taco Depot and Flashback Antiques open; Da Burger House closes
Major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital ‘a victory for East Chicago’
EAST CHICAGO — A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago.
The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment.
“Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it’s access to health care,” he said. “I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community.”
East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital’s future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana’s most populous city.
“They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued,” he said. “What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city.”
When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn’t have access to care.
“This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations,” he said. “This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It’s the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it’s right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago.”
St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities.
“St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home,” Correa said. “It’s a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease.”
The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project.
It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries.
“Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology,” said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services.
St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said.
“During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care,” he said. “That did not happen by chance. That’s the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources.
“We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology.
“Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us.”