The Mexican chain intends to open a fast-food restaurant in Michigan City. It’s planning a location at 10157 N. Love’s Avenue in Michigan City.

Taco John’s, whose slogan is “bigger. better. bolder.,” was founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with a devil mascot and the slogan “the hottest spot in town.” The 54-year-old restaurant chain, which is similar to Taco Bell, Taco Time and Del Taco, has grown to 380 restaurants in 22 stores, mostly in the Mountain West and Midwest.

It often located in smaller towns, military posts and college campuses, including a former location in an Indiana University Bloomington dormitory food court.

But it’s been aggressively growing under the current leadership.

Two years ago, the franchisee Meritage Hospitality Group, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based restaurant development chain that owns several Wendy’s in the Region, linked an area development agreement to build between 50 and 150 Taco John’s in the Midwest. The company owns Wendy’s restaurants in Merrillville, Portage, Chesterton, Valparaiso and LaPorte.

Taco John’s describes its cuisine as West Mex and serves breakfast lunch and dinner. The menu includes items like a beefy loaded cheddar crunch taco, a chicken club cheddar crunch taco, meat and potatoes breakfast burritos, a scrambler burrito, Mexican doughnut bites, super nachos, fried chicken tacos, stuffed grilled taco, chicken grilled burrito, four-cheese steak quesadillas and crispy tacos. It’s perhaps best known for its Potato Olés, which are tater tots with Mexican seasoning. 

Currently, the closest location is in Rosemont.

Tokyo 8 is now serving sushi, Japanese and pan-Asian cuisine in Hobart.

It took over the former Pho Hoa + Jazen Tea that was previously an Arby’s at 7800 E. Ridge Road in North Ridge Center.

The extensive menu includes sushi, salads, soups, udon, fried rice, lo mein, Pad Thai, hibachi and teriyaki. It serve up items like egg rolls, spring rolls, orange chicken, calamari, crab rangoon, sweet and sour chicken, shrimp dumplings, beef and broccoli, pepper steak, red curry shrimp, green curry shrimp and beef and garlic sauce.

It has a wide array of sushi, sashimi and rolls. Chef’s specials include Godzilla rolls, Tiger rolls, Mango Tango rolls, Volcano rolls, Dragon rolls, Fire Dragon rolls and Fire Island rolls. The Indiana roll features spicy scallops, crunch and cucumber on the inside and toppings of spicy crab, spicy mayo and scallions. The Butterfly Soy Paper roll has shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, cucumber, tobiko and toppings of salmon, tune, white tuna and eel sauce.

Drink options include fruit teas, milk teas and fruit smoothies.

Tokyo 8 is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.tokyo8in.com or call 219-963-1600.

Round Barn, the popular Southwest Michigan winery, brewery and distillery, is opening a third location by repurposing another architecturally unique building.

The winery in a round barn in Baroda, Michigan, which is a popular tourist attraction in Harbor Country, plans to rehabilitate a historic church in Niles in the Michiana area of Southwest Michigan.

The Niles City Commission give Round Barn a tax abatement to renovate the Grace United Methodist Church at 501 Grant St. in Niles, not far north of the Indiana state line.

Round Barn, which also has a tasting room in Union Pier, plans to turn the church into a restaurant and a tasting room. It plans to spend more than $1.3 million to resurrect the shuttered church.

“We are delighted Round Barn is growing in Niles,” said Ryan Millans, Niles Community Development Manager. “This investment in the city is a wonderful addition supporting our economic development efforts. It is expected to add many permanent jobs when the restaurant/tasting room is complete, in addition to the jobs of those accomplishing the renovation construction.”

It will be the second artisan beverage establishment in a former house of worship in Southwest Michigan, joining Beer Church Brewery in a historic Civil War-era church at the crossroads of downtown New Buffalo.

“Niles City Commissioners understand the value of encouraging business investment within the city, and how to make the process as smooth as possible,” said Zach Vaughan, Cornerstone Alliance Director of Community Improvement. “Round Barn found a great location here in Niles and the City worked closely with us to develop a path toward project achievability. These collaborative efforts continue to prove Berrien County is a great place to grow business.”

Round Barn makes a number of wines like dry whites, dry reds, sweet whites, sweet reds, fruit wines, and sangrias. It branched into making craft beer like IPAs and kolsch and craft spirits like whiskey, bourbon, gin, rum, agave and vodka.

“Niles is a great location to expand our operations and directly serve more people who enjoy our beverages,” said Matthew Moersch, owner of Round Barn Winery. It’s a significant growth milestone for us. Cornerstone Alliance efforts were significant in facilitating the application process with The City of Niles and providing strategic guidance to support this expansion project.”

Round Barn’s parent company, Moersch Hospitality Group, hopes to open in Niles next year.

“We are thrilled to be welcomed into the community of Niles,” CEO and owner Matthew Moersch said. “For years, we have been looking for the right opportunity to bring our signature Round Barn experience to the City of Four Flags and are confident we have found it.”

It will take over a stone church dating back to 1953 that boasts vaulted ceilings, high arches and stained glass windows.

Round Barn plans to serve pub-style food, host live music and have an outdoor beer garden outside the church.

We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to take a moment to share some bittersweet news with all of you.

After many wonderful years of serving our community as 2 Chicks Resale and Consignment, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors. We are incredibly grateful for the love and support you’ve shown us over the years.

However, we’re excited to announce that this isn’t the end of our journey. We are transitioning into a brand-new venture that we are passionate about and can’t wait to share with you all.

2 Chicks Consignment and Resale Boutique closed at 2817 Jewett Ave.

The store sold home decor, furniture, clothes shoes, sandals, purses, jewelry, crystals, stones, drinkware, holiday merchandise and other gently used items in downtown Highland, where the owner was active in Highland Main Street. After six years, it shuttered a few weeks ago.

But the owners are launching a new business venture.

“After many wonderful years of serving our community as 2 Chicks Resale and Consignment, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors. We are incredibly grateful for the love and support you’ve shown us over the years,” the business posted on Facebook. “However, we’re excited to announce that this isn’t the end of our journey. We are transitioning into a brand-new venture that we are passionate about and can’t wait to share with you all.”

“Our new studio will be a place where you can let your creativity run wild, explore the art of ceramics, and connect with your inner artist. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, there will be something for everyone to enjoy,” the ceramics studio posted on Facebook. “We want to express our heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you for being a part of our journey so far. Your support has been invaluable, and we look forward to welcoming you to The Artist’s Den, as we embark on this exciting new chapter together.”

The ceramic and creative studio will offer walk-in ceramic studio sessions, workshops, do-it-yourself classes, themed events, ceramic parties and party rentals.

For more information, call 219-301-5588, email artistsdenceramics@gmail.com or find Artist’s Den on Facebook.