Munster has finally opened up their new strip of retail shops on Calumet Avenue. Recent openings include Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Chipotle, and Firehouse Subs.
For locals, the new restaurants have given the area some bustle and intrigue. The most popular additions to the strip mall might likely be Five Guys, which is ranked #13 in the region for fast food and is also a national favorite, and Chipotle, a fast-food southwest restaurant owned by McDonald’s.
Locals have been waiting for both of these restaurants to hit northwest Indiana and are faithfully visiting them in droves.
Chipotle in Munster, although new, seems to have a topnotch service team, and their customer service is proactive. They offer a kids’ menu at this location, and they have new low profile seating. Firehouse Subs on Calumet Avenue has both positives and negatives. They have a cute fireman theme; however, their food quality doesn’t equal the amount of money you’ll pay for a sandwich, according to the comments left by the customers upon a visit to the restaurant. One customer stated while dining, “My sandwich tastes like they just put it in the microwave and its not good quality. It took forever to make as well.”
Big ‘N Little Shoes, a children’s shoe store, moved from their Ridge Road location to new spot in the Calumet Avenue strip mall, and Fro Yo, a former seasonal frozen yogurt moved just meters away to a year-round spot in the new mall. Munster spent $5.285 million in economic development to help finance the new project and other infrastructure improvements. Munster shop buildings are designed to house up to nine small businesses with 1440-2460 square feet.
Although the chain businesses are welcome, small businesses are unfortunately left to cope with the effects. Munster Donut must now compete with Dunkin Donuts and the new bakery at Panera Bread. A sign in their window reminds locals to “shop local”.  Arnie’s in Munster plans to rebuild to add to the new mall. And there is a rumor that Arby’s, unfortunately, may close down in preparation for a new business on the west side of the street. There has been talk that Culver’s, another chain, is eyeing
the Munster location, but no other small businesses have piped up to pounce on one of the retail shop vacancies.