Both Staples and Party City, located at 2813 E. Third St. and 2817 E. Third St., will close on Jan. 17, 2025. These are not the only Bloomington businesses to close their doors in recent months. Here are some of the other establishments that have opened or closed this year.
Irish Lion
Irish Lion, an Irish Pub that served corned beef, Shepherd's pie and beer on Kirkwood Avenue for more than 40 years, closed on May 17.
Ellie Mae’s Boutique, currently located in Fountain Square, is moving to the former Irish Lion location in 2025. The boutique has a candle making business, Kirkwood Candles, and it plans to also offer cooking classes and space for community events.
Cafe Pizzaria
Cafe Pizzaria was a staple of downtown Bloomington, with the restaurant’s big letters being a landmark of Kirkwood Avenue. The establishment specialized in selling pizzas and strombolis for 71 years until Aug. 28.
The owners, the Webb family, planned to close on Aug. 31 following the IU football home opener and announce the news on Aug. 28. Due to anticipated high demand and a sudden staffing shortage, the restaurant ultimately had to announce an immediate closure of the restaurant on Aug. 28.
B-Town Diner
After 10 years of serving breakfast, sandwiches and burgers, B-Town Diner closed its doors this July. It is currently unknown what will be moving into the former diner.
CVS on College Mall Road
One of the two CVS locations on College Mall Road closed May 8.
There are currently six other CVS locations in Bloomington, including ones on Kirkwood Avenue and Third Street. Since its closure, this location was rented out to Spirit Halloween in the months leading up to the holiday.
Switchyard Pizza Kitchen and Brewing
Switchyard Pizza Kitchen and Brewing closed on Jan. 14 after five years of trivia nights and block parties all while serving its on-site brewed beer. There are no reports of what business will move into this space.
Brilliant Coffee Company, Nourish Bar and Capisce Market and Catering
The three businesses announced their closure on Jan. 3. The establishments were owned by ReVv and Strum Hospitality Group.
Despite certain local businesses closing, many new establishments have opened in the area.
Academy Sports and Outdoors
Academy Sports and Outdoors, a sporting goods chain offering sport and recreational equipment, opened Sept. 20. This is the retail chain’s eighth location in Indiana.
Malatang
Chinese-inspired hot pot restaurant Malatang opened on Kirkwood on Sept. 1 offering over 70 different ingredients and variations of hot pots.
Coffee Beanery
Coffee Beanery, a coffee shop franchise that started in Michigan, opened its first Indiana location in downtown Bloomington on Oct. 25 on the corner of Grant and Third Streets.
Way2Go Mart
Way2Go Mart, a convenience store offering food, beverages and tobacco products, replaced the former Village Pantry location on 10th Street on Sept. 26.
Smoothie King
Smoothie King, a nationwide chain offering smoothies and juices, opened a location in The Shoppes on College Mall Road on Nov. 5.
Wing Stop
In the same strip mall where Smoothie King opened, a new Wing Stop location shortly followed, opening a few days later. The location offers wings with a variety of sauces and seasoning ranging from little heat to extremely spicy.
Bru Burger
The country’s 15th Bru Burger location opened in February in downtown Bloomington. This restaurant serves beer and burgers on the corner of Third and Grant Streets.
Che Bello
Che Bello, an Italian restaurant in Fountain Square, reopened on Feb. 17 under new ownership and offering different dishes made by chefs from 21 North in Martinsville.
Jughead & Murphys
Jughead & Murphys, a coffee shop in College Mall, opened on Nov. 29. The shop offers a variety of different coffees and pastries as well as pup lattes and dog biscuits.
