LaPorte County Courthouse
KINGSBURY — The owner of Kingsbury Elevator is planning to expand the business.
Ed Lindborg is seeking a zoning variance to allow him to store flammable anhydrous ammonia inside two tanks, each holding up to 45,000 gallons of the crop fertilizer.
Lindborg said the anhydrous ammonia would be shipped to the elevator at Kingsbury Industrial Park in rail cars from four production facilities in Mississippi, Iowa and Canada.
The fertilizer, compressed in liquid form, would be stored in tanks to be located in an open field more than two thousand feet from the grain elevator.
He said the anhydrous ammonia would be held until delivered by semi to retailers mostly in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
Farmers within a 20 to 30 mile radius of the elevator would also be able to go directly to the site to purchase the fertilizer.
“We’re doing a good project. It’s good for the local farmers,” Lindborg said.
See a day in the life of Michigan City Police Officer Brian Wright in the latest Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops installment.
The LaPorte County Redevelopment Commission last week approved extending a water line to the site to provide the facility with fire protection.
The fertilizer converts to a gas and becomes explosive when released into the air.
Lindborg said the plan includes installation of sensing technology that would detect and start an automatic sprinkler system to neutralize the gas if a leak ever developed in the tanks.
He said the office of the Indiana State Chemist has already issued a permit for the proposed operation.
Lindborg said he’s seeking a variance from the LaPorte County Board of Zoning Appeals because the project involves storage of anhydrous ammonia, and to be transparent about his plans with local authorities as an extra safety precaution.
“This thing is highly regulated and, basically, extremely safe the way we’re doing it,” he said.
Kingsbury Elevator already has room to store up to 10,000 tons of liquid and dry fertilizer for selling to local farmers.
Lindborg said the expansion would give farmers within a 500 mile radius of the elevator access to fertilizer at a lower price than they’re currently paying.
“It’s just an extension of what we’re doing already,” he said.
Kingsbury Elevator expanded its rail yard in 2015 with four additional service lines for the Canadian National railroad to use for bringing in more corn and soybeans along with fertilizer.
The product is stored then distributed from the elevator.
Another expansion at the elevator, with both projects totaling about $8 million, happened about three years later.
Lindborg's request for a variance is scheduled to be heard at the April 20 meeting of the LaPorte County Board of Zoning Appeals at 6 p.m.
Lindborg said he hopes to begin work on installing the storage facility in May.
Matt Reardon of the LaPorte County Office of Economic and Community Development did not anticipate any difficulties with obtaining a variance.
He said Kingsbury Industrial Park is already zoned for heavy industry and the fertilizer is widely used in agriculture.
He also said extra safety precautions must be taken for projects of this nature.
“There’s special rules that are required by the state of Indiana to make sure that your storage and operation are safe and secure and protects the surrounding the area,” he said.
NWI Business Ins & Outs
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Last Chance Overstock, Shoe Dept. Encore, Taco Bell, Holiday Inn, Northshore Health Centers, Cubs and White Sox vendors opening
Expanding
Last Chance Overstock is expanding in Schererville.
The warehouse outlet store in Boulevard Square, the site of the former Menard’s at 1000 U.S. 41 in Schererville, is taking over the neighboring space formerly occupied by United Art & Education, a store that catered to local teachers.
Last Chance Overstock at 1042 U.S. 41 next to the Planet Fitness on Indianapolis Boulevard offers "an adventure in savings every week." The local family-owned owned was started in 2014, offering markdowns on overstock, customer returns, slightly damaged items, shelf-pulls and open-box goods. The merchandise constantly changes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Expanding
The department store offers discounts on many items, including clothing, furniture, home goods, watches, toys, bedding, food, grills, shoes and seasonal goods.
It's adding five more employees and 8,000 more square feet, which will broaden its selection of merchandise. The store, which has grown from seven to more than 40 employees, plans a grand reopening sometime in the next few months.
For more information, visit www.lastchanceoverstock.com or call (219) 515-2202.
Open
Shoe Dept. Encore has arrived at the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City.
Founded in 1960 in North Carolina, the shoe store carries footwear for women, men and children, as well as handbags and accessories. It also offers shoe care.
With locations in 47 states, Shoe Dept. Encore stocks top brands like Eastland, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Hush Puppies, Life Stride, Rocky Boots, K Swiss, Reebok, Nike, Keds, New Balance and Hi-Tec.
For more information, call 219-221-3564.
Open
Taco Bell is now serving up tacos, burritos, chalupas and other Tex-Mex faves in North Hammond's Marina District.
The fast-food restaurant recently opened at 922 Indianapolis Blvd. right by the Chicago border.
Open
Expect dirt-cheap quesadillas, crunchwraps, cheesy roll-ups, fountain drinks and dollar specials. The restaurant has a drive-thru, dine-in and delivery via Uber Eats.
Several restaurants have cropped up at the outdoor mall anchored by Walmart in recent years, including Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Starbucks, IHOP and Wingstop. A new Dairy Queen Grill and Chill also opened there earlier this year.
Under Renovation
Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Lansing is being renovated.
"The exterior paint was updated using a brown and white color palette, creating a clean and fresh look," The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau said in a news release. "Indoor renovations are being completed on a floor-by-floor basis. Each of the 63 guest rooms and 17 suites will receive updates, in addition to the breakfast area, the business center and more areas throughout the hotel."
The hotel offers amenities like an indoor pool, a gym, and breakfast.
Expanding
NorthShore Health Centers of Indiana is relocating its clinic in Chesterton to a larger building, where it also will offer substance abuse and addiction treatment.
It's also expanding in LaPorte and investing in its Lake Station location.
"Chesterton's location at 407 W. Indiana will move to a site that will include its current services plus dental, optometry, substance abuse and an in-house pharmacy," NorthShore Chief Financial Officer Joseph Winterhaler said. "NorthShore's LaPorte clinic will relocate to a larger building, which will include nine exam rooms, substance abuse, dental and an in-house pharmacy. Along with these relocations, remodeling of NorthShore's Lake Station Medical and Lake Station Dental facilities will occur."
NorthShore recently bought the 15,000-square-foot Duneland Resale Shop at 801 Broadway in Chesterton, which also will remain home to the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry. Duneland Resale, which has contributed $2.6 million to local charities over the last 20 years, plans to relocate, possibly to a 10,000-square-foot space at 878 W. Indiana Ave. that was previously home to Lakeshore Gymnastics and Atlas Roller Rink.
“We have to no plans to go out of business,” Joy Johnston told the Chesterton Town Council. “In fact, we have plans to make a long-term investment.”
NorthShore outgrew its current space, and will now have five to six times more square footage to increase its health care offerings in Chesterton. It will add a pharmacy with drugs at federally controlled prices and four or five more physicians, including a dentist and optometrist.
It will go from nine exam rooms to 21, add X-rays and ultrasounds, and offer specialties like chiropractic, endocrinology, and behavioral health services. It also will expand psychiatry services because of the need.
“This has been a team effort,” said Todd Elliott, chief strategy officer of NorthShore Health. “We want to show unity. We want people to know that we’re very much working with the Resale folks and that the Resale folks are very much working with us. What Resale has done over the last 20 years is remarkable. We have high expectations for us not to let you down. We don’t think we will.”
He called it a "game-changer in Chesterton"
“We serve low-income, middle-income, and high-income families. And not just Chesterton folks but Porter folks and Burns Harbor folks. If they can’t afford it, we’ve got a sliding scale. NorthShore isn’t for this person or that person, it’s for everybody. We work with all insurances. And we have staffers on-site to help you enroll. There’s really nothing we can’t do to help somebody from a healthcare standpoint. Insurance, no insurance. No one should ever feel slighted walking into one of our buildings. No one should ever lose their dignity coming into one of our clinics. Your care is never determined by your insurance or income. We’re a one-stop-shop, and when you walk out, we want you to have your medication and not have to choose between your health and your supper.”
The clinic expects to start remodeling in May after Duneland Resale liquidates its current inventory, with NorthShore Health Clinic opening at the new location late this year or early next year.
For more information, visit northshorehealth.org.
Reopen
Celebrate Opening Day with some new threads or caps.
After the baseball season kicked off, the Chicago Sports Depot outside Guaranteed Rate Field will now be open from noon until 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
The merchandise shop for White Sox fans will be open only to ticketed fans during day games and after 5:10 p.m. for night games.
The White Sox team shop will require masks, social distancing and credit card payments.
For more information, email retail@chisox.com.
Open
Home Run Inn, which bills itself Chicago’s “premium thin-crust pizza,” has become the official pizza of Wrigley Field this year, and also recently established a footprint at Midway Airport.
The company has ramped up production of its thin-crust pizza, the No. 1 selling frozen pizza in Chicagoland with a 17% increase in sales last year. It will be available at every Cubs home game this season.
“We’re excited to welcome Cubs fans back to Wrigley Field this year and hope everyone enjoys this update to our food offerings at the ballpark,” said Alex Seyferth, vice president of corporate partnerships for Marquee 360. “Home Run Inn is family-owned with a deep history in Chicago and we couldn’t be more proud to be partnering together to bring Cubs fans their delicious pizza.”
Wrigley Field will have two Home Run Inn concession stands and sell more pizzas at other concession stands this season. Baseball fans can place orders online of cheese pizzas for $10 or of pepperoni or sausage pizzas for $10.50.
“Being named the official pizza of Wrigley Field is a great opportunity for Home Run Inn to share our legacy with Cubs fans,” said Dan Costello, CEO of Home Run Inn. “We can’t wait to be their official partner this season when the Cubs knock it out of the park.”
The company operates nine restaurants in the Chicago metropolitan area but has really made a name for itself with its frozen pizza, which is sold in more than 40 states and ranks in the top 10 in sales nationally. Founded 73 years ago at a South Side tavern, it now makes 100,000 pizzas a day at a manufacturing plant in Woodridge, Ill.
It's known for its buttery crust, ample cheese, homemade sausage and zesty sauce.
For more information, visit www.homeruninnpizza.com.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
