First Merchants Bank declared a cash dividend and named a new board member.
The Muncie-based bank, the second largest in Indiana with an extensive footprint in the Region, will pay 32 cents per share on June 17 for anyone who owned shares as of June 3.
First Merchants, the successor to First Financial Bank in Munster, named Patrick J. Fehring to the board. He is transiting away from his leadership roles as president and CEO of Level One Bank, which First Merchants acquired.
“The First Merchants Board of Directors is proud to welcome Mr. Fehring,” Board Chairman Charles E. Schalliol said. “Patrick’s financial services expertise and commitment to southeastern Michigan communities will serve our shareholders and customers well as First Merchants continues to grow and expand.”
Fehring ran Level One Bank since it was founded in suburban Detroit in 2007.
“Experienced bankers like Pat Fehring have always been an important voice in our board room. I'm thankful that Pat is willing to serve, and that Southeast Michigan will be well represented," First Merchants Bank CEO Mark K. Hardwick said.
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Fehring also spent 27 years with Fifth Third Bancorp, serving as president of its operations in eastern Michigan. He's a graduate of Miami University in Ohio who is active in the community, also serving on the boards of Ascension Health Michigan and the Catholic Foundation of Michigan.
“I am honored to accept this position and join such a distinguished group of professional leaders,” said Fehring. “The merger with First Merchants is a strong match of corporate cultures, values and commitment to exceptional customer service. This development only reaffirms that compatibility. First Merchants’ current trajectory of performance and growth presents enormous potential, and I look forward to contributing to continued momentum and success.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Smoketown Blues Barbecue, Parlor Doughnuts, Morkes Chocolate Shop, Summergold, University of Chicago Medicine, Physiopoint coming
Coming soon
Smoketown Blues will bring southern-style barbecue to downtown Valparaiso.
The restaurant with "a fiery passion for distinctive ingredients, freshly trimmed meats, and lively experiences" will open for takeout Tuesday at 66 W. Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso.
Dine-in will follow soon.
The barbecue joint will serve meats smoked low and slow on apple, hickory, pecan and cherry woods sourced from the American South. It makes its own barbecue sauces in-house, such as Cherry Chipotle, Honey Habanero, Georgia Peach and Tennessee Whiskey.
It specializes in artisan barbecue with "a thin outer bark and an inner smoke ring revealing tender meat inside" that's crafted with "signature blends of smoke, dry rubs and sauces."
The menu includes baby back ribs, brisket and pulled pork. It also has barbecue sandwiches like The Drunken Philly, with brisket smothered in the Tennessee Whiskey sauce, and The Yard Bird, which tops a shredded, slow-cooked chicken breast with smoked gouda cheese, tomato slices, crunchy pickles and ancho chipotle. It's served in an artisan bianco roll.
Sides include sweet potato fries, BBQ beans, cole slaw, Tater Salad, Mac n Cheese and Cactus Brisket Chili. If you save room, there are desserts sourced from the Belle Estanni Bake Shoppe of Valparaiso.
The restaurant will be open 4-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, email info@smoketownblues.com, visit smoketownblues.com or call 219-242-8114.
Coming soon
It's time to make the doughnuts in Valpo — craft, vegan, gluten-friendly and keto-friendly small-batch doughnuts.
Parlor Doughnuts will soon serve freshly baked sweets, including its signature layered doughnut, at 255 Morthland Drive in Valparaiso. It's taking over the space on U.S. 30 that was previously home to Jordy N Jax BBQ, Petey's Gyros and — most recently — Dicky's Dogs.
It specializes in coffee and unique artisan baked goods, boasting that it aims to "deliver a superior product, at a moderate price, with exceptional service, in a comfortable setting."
The menu also includes acai bowls, avocado toast, tacos and breakfast sandwiches. It also has a Doggie Doughnut.
Darrick Hayden and Josh Tudela founded the business in Evansville in 2019. It was inspired by Hayden's travels around the country with his son's band, when he would seek out the best doughnuts and coffee in any city they visited.
The growing chain has locations in Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Texas, California, South Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky and Tennessee. In Indiana, it has doughnut shops in Bloomington, Indianapolis and Jasper.
For more information, visit www.parlordoughnuts.com.
Coming soon
Morkes Chocolates will soon bring something sweet to Cedar Lake.
The sweet shop has been making candy since 1920 and has locations in Palatine and Huntley. Its Cedar Lake location will open in mid-2022 on West 133rd Avenue in front of Strack & Van Til.
It offers a wide area of candies, such as chocolates, caramels, fudge, Pecan Puppets, Velvety French Creams, Mint Creams, Original Silks, gourmet truffles, peanut butter cups, chocolate bars, toffees, double stuffed cookies, chocolate graham crackers, Peppermint Barque, Morchunkies, Coconut Haystacks and Sponge Candy.
Morkes Chocolates also has doughnuts, fresh fruit, caramel apples, gift basket and home candy-making kits.
The Cedar Lake location also will offer Dairy Belle ice cream, a homegrown Region favorite.
For more information, visit morkeschocolates.com.
Now open
The new Summergold Custom Airbrush is now shining brightly at 1868 45th St. in Munster.
"I started Summergold Custom Airbrush Tans because I felt that sunless tanning options were limited in the area, especially where I live in Munster," owner Summer Borkowski said. "I not only want to provide everyone with a safe option to get a natural-looking tan, but I also want to encourage and educate others about skin health, especially when it comes to tanning."
The 1,600-square-foot studio is located next to Dante’s House of Pizza and Danny Z’s.
"We offer luxury custom airbrush tans and pick the right solution for each client’s skin type and tone. We also have bridal airbrush tan packages offering discounts to brides and their bridal parties/friends," Borkowski said.
'Started with tanning my friends in my home'
There's also a retail section.
"We carry products to compliment your airbrush tan like pH balancing shower cleansers, lotions, exfoliating scrubs and mitts, etc.," she said. "We also carry a variety of sunless products so you can achieve a tan at home, such as self-tanning mousse, gradual tan extending lotion, and bronzing facial drops. We have a special brand of mineral-based sunscreens coming to the studio in just a few weeks which we’re excited about as well."
New customers save $10 on their first airbrush tan.
"I started off airbrush tanning my friends in my home and wanted to carry that same atmosphere to the Summergold studio — like you’re hanging out at your friend’s house," she said. "We made sure to make the space bright and cheery, with a fun, funky and retro twist."
For more information, email hello@summergoldco.com or visit summergoldco.com.
Coming soon
The University of Chicago Medicine plans to bring mental health services to Merrillville, where it will move into one of Lake County's tallest buildings.
The health care provider based out of Chicago's South Side Hyde Park neighborhood signed a long-term lease for office space at 8585 Broadway in Merrillville. It will occupy 2,000-square-feet on the sixth floor of the office tower that was built by Gainer Bank and was most recently branded as the Chase Bank Tower before Chase moved out.
“This is a great central location for a mental health practice and a great fit for the diverse professional services offered at 8585 Broadway," said Antony Miocic with Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial, which partnered with NAI Hiffman to represent the landlord in the deal. "University of Chicago Medicine will provide a useful and much-needed service to patients in the area.”
Coming soon
PhysioPoint Physical Therapy in Crown Point plans to open a new office in Highland Tuesday.
The PhysioPoint Highland physical therapy office will be located at 2050 45th St.
“After having success helping clients move better and feel better for years in Crown Point and Cedar Lake, PhysioPoint is now expanding our services to bring quality physical therapy to the greater Highland Indiana area in the Port De L’eau Plaza on 45th Street," owner Nate Kloosterman said. “The pillars of treatment aimed at helping a wide variety of physical therapy and wellness needs include hands-on therapy, Pilates equipment, trigger point dry needling and an innovated approach called Redcord. We offer examinations to clients without needing a doctor’s referral for most insurances.”
David Cobb will serve as the lead therapist in the Highland office.
“Dave is a highly skilled diagnostician and manual therapist who treats a wide variety of orthopedic conditions as well as balance in vestibular issues,” Kloosterman said. “He is a board-certified orthopedic specialist who has advanced training in the management of musculoskeletal issues, sports injuries and chronic conditions. He has been certified in trigger point dry needling. His clients give him rave reviews."
For more information, call 219-801-7777.
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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.
