BUSINESS

New restaurant proposed for PNC Center

John Russell
john.russell@indystar.com

One of the busiest intersections Downtown, already teeming with retail spots and eateries, could get another major restaurant.

The PNC Center, a 22-story tower, is planning to overhaul an under-used part of its building that faces the northwest corner of Illinois and Maryland streets, and bring in a national restaurant brand to occupy up to 15,000 square feet.

No deal has yet been signed, and the building is still shopping for the right restaurant, said Brian Epstein, a broker at Urbanspace Commercial Properties, which represents the building's owner, Equity Commonwealth.

He said the new restaurant will likely be a large, national chain that can handle large numbers of customers.

The space is now occupied by a massive loading dock, apparently built before the intersection became a hotbed of restaurants, shopping and pedestrians traffic.

The PNC Center was built in 1977, nearly two decades before the Circle Centre Mall opened across the street.

"There was no thought, way back when, that the intersection was going to become Main and Main," Epstein said.

The intersection — and a 60-second walk in any direction — already has plenty of restaurant choices, including Palomino, Ruth's Chris Steak House, St. Elmo Steak House, Steak 'n Shake, P.F. Chang's, Granite City and Noodles & Company, and Harry & Izzy's Steakhouse.

The PNC Center also houses the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis hotel and has several small eateries on the ground floor.

Call Star reporter John Russell at (317) 444-6283. Follow him on Twitter @johnrussell99.