Indianapolis Business Journal published a story Feb. 3 by Chip Cutter about the sale of the Hamaker pharmacy building and the changes anticipated at 49th and Penn in Meridian-Kessler.

Here's the essence, with thanks to IBJ for sending the link:

"A prominent Meridian-Kessler building at the corner of 49th and Pennsylvania streets has a new owner nearly a year-and-a-half after it first went up for sale.

"A group of local investors, led by Bryan Chandler of Eclipse Real Estate and Greg Rankin and John Bales of Venture Cos., purchased the 12,000-square-foot Hamaker Corner building in December.

"The sale price was $1.35 million, according to the Washington Township Assessors office.

"The new owners plan to spend more than $500,000 to renovate the space, spruce up the landscaping and improve the building's mechanical systems. The first priority, though, will be to maintain the center's neighborhood feel, Chandler said.....

"The building currently houses Cafe Patachou, D&Z Gifts, Meridian Heights Cleaners, Emmett's Hair Studio and Cassis graphic design. The 2,000-square-foot former drug store space remains vacant.

"Rankin said the focus would now shift to finding a tenant for the open space. He's also working with the building's existing businesses to see who wants to stay.

"David Clark, the owner of Meridian Heights Cleaners, said his family-owned dry cleaning shop has operated on the site since 1932. His lease is up soon, and he's hoping to work out an agreement with the new owners.

"'We're definitely interested in staying here,' he said. 'We're hoping we can come to terms with the new landlord, and I've got every belief that we can.'

"The new owners have hired locally based Axis Architecture & Interiors to help with the renovations, expected to begin this spring."