A Crown Point area cattle farm has led the Hoosier State in the raising of Angus beef cattle this year.
Linz Heritage Angus outside Crown Point ranked first in Angus registrations for Indiana in fiscal year 2021, which ended on Sept. 30, according to the American Angus Association.
Angus breeders nationwide registered 313,138 head of Angus cattle during the last fiscal year, according to the professional association that represents more than 25,000 members in the beef industry across the country.
“Our association members lead the industry in adopting new technology and breeding the most problem-free cattle for their customers,” CEO Mark McCully said. “Cattlemen across the country continue to find registered Angus seedstock are the most profitable option for their herd.”
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Linz Heritage Angus is run by the Linz family, which operates Calumet City-based beef supplier Meats by Linz. Founded by Martin Linz in 1963, it grew from a neighborhood butcher shop to one of the leading purveyors of meat in the United States.
Meats by Linz provides beef to steakhouses all over the country, including Gibson's, Kinzie Chophouse, Gino's Steakhouse, Chicago Prime Steakhouse, Chicago Chop House, Ditka's, Harry & Izzy's, Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, St. Elmo's, STK, Steak 48, Bohanan's Prime Steak and Seafood, Pittsburgh Blue, Dominick's Steakhouse and Pete Miller's Steak and Seafood.
It even supplies steakhouses in Texas as well as restaurants like Eately, Carnivale Chicago, Doc's BBQ, the Breakers Palm Beach, Marcel, Sea Island Resort and Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab.
Linz Heritage Angus pursues a mission of breeding Angus cattle with optimal genetics, "not only to produce some of the most consistently marbled Angus in the world, but also share these leading genetics with like-minded ranchers."
For more information, visit www.linzheritageangus.com or www.meatsbylinz.com.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Basecamp Fitness and Mexican restaurants opening; Albano's Pasta Shop and Ringo's Golf Center close
Coming soon
A new strip mall that will bring Basecamp Fitness to Schererville is now under construction in front of the Hampton Inn on U.S. 41, just south of the Crossroads of America intersection.
Town Manager Bob Volkmann said Basecamp Fitness will occupy 3,000 square feet in the 8,000-square-foot commercial building at 1902 U.S. 41.
Basecamp Fitness, a fledgling chain with the slogan "make epic your M.O.," specializes in group fitness classes with interval training that combines cardio, core movements and weight training to "push you 100% every time." The workout sessions involve full-body exercise and are different every time.
Under construction
It offers intense classes with complete workouts that aim to be "quick, complete, and positive." Part of a national group fitness class trend that's taken off with boutique studios like SoulCycle, it claims to "operate on one speed and one speed only: as. fast. as. you. can."
Schererville Building Coordinator Barbara Hansen said the gym chain, which also has a location in Chicago, would move into the "3-unit strip mall with only one known tenant at this time."
For more information, call 219-718-4167 or visit basecampfitness.com.
Closing
Downtown Valparaiso has one of the most vibrant dining scenes in the Region.
But that means restaurants, even high-quality ones with acclaimed food, come and go.
Albano's Pasta Shop at 22 Washington St. is closing. The eatery offered a contemporary twist on traditional Italian cuisine.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of Albano's Pasta Shop," the restaurant posted. "First, we want to thank all of our wonderful guests and employees for supporting us and becoming our family over these past three years in our downtown location. What began as a little 30-seat restaurant on a twinkly stretch of Washington St. grew into a place that has welcomed hundreds and thousands of guests and employed some very special, talented people over the years. We are extremely humbled that so many embraced our restaurant and even more humbled that we got to grow with so many great people in the community. You allowed us to succeed, adopt new perspectives and thrive and grow and accomplish so much more than dollars and cents at the end of the day. Not only could we not have gotten where we are without all of you. We are truly a product of all your generosity and love."
But it's not the last chapter for Albano's, which took over the old Olga's Place space in a less visible space off the square in downtown Valpo. It suggested its next culinary adventure might involve its popular grass-fed beef meatballs slow-simmered in tomato sauce.
"Second, we want to happily announce that we will be continuing a very exciting byproduct of this restaurant in a nearby location very very soon," Albano's posted. "All gift cards will be usable and fully valid at our new location with no expiration ever. Peace for now Washington St."
Closed
Ringo's Golf Center recently closed after a half-century in Lake County because the owners are retiring.
The 1,800-square-foot pro shop at 7611 Lincoln Highway with a Crown Point address sold clubs, clothes for the links and other golf equipment. Founded in 1971 as Ringo's Golden Tee, longtime owners Maureen and Wally Kolodzie, the son of a former golf pro at the Gleason Park Golf Course in Gary's Glen Park neighborhood, opted to sell the property, which will be turned into a haunted house.
It featured a driving range, batting cages and a miniature golf course. Though obviously busiest when golfers hit the links, it was "open year 'round," as the sign informed passing motorists.
Relocating
CrossCountry Mortgage is relocating to Park Tower in Merrillville.
The national mortgage lender recently signed a lease to take over 3,800 square feet in the office tower at 233 E. 84th Drive in Merrillville, just south of the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar.
The full-service mortgage lender, which has more than 600 locations in the United States, will relocate its current Merrillville office there.
“Relocating an existing office is never an easy task," said Antony Miocic of Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial, which represented CrossCountry Mortgage. "We looked at several offices and Park Tower was our top choice. It was a pleasure assisting CrossCountry in finding a Class A office space that meets their needs.”
For more information, call 219-750-9591.
Relocating
Continuum of Care Network is on the move.
The social service provider offers assistance to people facing housing difficulties. It's relocating to 650 S. Lake St. suite D in Gary's lakefront neighborhood.
Continuum of Care Network will occupy a 1,530 square foot space where it will house its field staff and administrative personnel.
“This office is a great fit for Continuum of Care and will enable them to better serve the community," said Miocic, who brokered the transaction.
For more information, call 219-886-9966.
Open
Vein & Laser Institute opened in LaPorte.
The doctor's office specializes in non-invasive treatments for vein, cosmetic and medical conditions. A ribbon-cutting and open house will take place 5-7 p.m. Oct. 14 at 125 East Shore Parkway, suite C in LaPorte.
The LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership is hosting the ceremony, which will be followed with food and office tours, to introduce the business to the public. It will be open to the public, but people should RSVP at www.laportepartnership.com in advance.
The Vein & Laser Institute has been around for 17 years and has offices in Crown Point, Munster and Valparaiso. Its board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional radiologists treat patients with minimally invasive treatments, such as image-guided care.
"We are very excited to open a new location in LaPorte County where we will be able to provide patients options for vein-related issues," Medical Director Dr. Omar Barakat said. “For over 20 years, we have been performing the most up-to-date vein and cosmetic treatments in Lake and Porter counties and it was important that we be able to extend that same level of excellence and care to La Porte and surrounding area residents."
For more information, visit www.veinandcosmetics.com or call 219-736-8118.
Coming soon
Tacos El Rey is coming soon to Chicago's East Side.
The taco shop plans to bring "trendy eats and tons of employment opportunities" to 9625 S. Ewing Ave., near the Hammond border. The menu will include carnitas, pozole and menudo.
The new restaurant is taking over the space previously occupied by La Paz #2 Taqueria Y Ostioneria.
Open
Chela's Birria Tacos took over the former Schoop's Hamburgers space at 1449 Indianapolis Boulevard in Whiting.
The restaurant specializes in birria, a traditional soup or stew from the Jalisco region of Mexico that's simmered with adobo, chili peppers, garlic and cumin. Chela's Birria Tacos boasts an "authentic recipe."
The menu includes tacos, tostados, quesadillas, menudo, birria ramen and birria tacos. The counter-serve fast-food restaurant also has tostada chips on the side and Mexican coke and agua fresca.
Be forewarned that it's cash-only.
Chelas Birria Tacos is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week except Tuesday.
For more information, call 219-655-4055.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
