The mother-daughter team of Karen E Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk bought the Bates-Hendricks building at 1531 S. East St. in 2017 to warehouse the material they used in their business, Two Chicks and a Hammer, and their HGTV show, Good Bones.
But they began to envision how the space could serve the neighborhood, even fitting into their corporate mission to “revitalize Indianapolis one property at a time.”
The “Two Chicks” have focused their home renovation efforts on Fountain Square and Bates-Hendricks, and have seen how Bates-Hendricks is evolving. But “it needs a commercial corner for people who want an urban lifestyle,” Starsiak Hawk said as she prepared for the Saturday, June 20, opening of Two Chicks District Co.
They also understand that people who see Good Bones may want to purchase some of the products the Two Chicks use in their finished products. As a result, the store will feature home décor, housewares, rugs, lighting, even some furniture.
But the concept grew when Laine and Starsiak Hawk visited Magnolia, the venture of Chip and Joanna Gaines in Waco, Tex. “Let’s make this a place to touch more people,” Starsiak Hawk said, “and offer more than just a store.”
And so, the concrete block building is also a bistro, where visitors can get beer and wine, meat and cheese plates, and sandwiches, all provided by Wildwood Market in Fountain Square.
“Through District Co., we want to bring life to this area by having a quaint bistro located at the front of the store for people to enjoy fresh food, a glass of wine, or a pint of beer,” Starsiak Hawk wrote on the company’s website.
Two Chicks District Co. is owned by Starsiak Hawk, with Laine having retired from the business last year. But Laine plans on taking some time away from her grandmother duties to create some craft classes at the store, another way to make the venue neighborhood-friendly. They also envision hosting such events as bridal showers.
The store was developed by Kelsy Gray, Starsiak Hawk’s sister who is the company’s chief business officer. The family-centric enterprise also includes Alexa Howell as chief operating officer.
Two Chicks District Co. will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, although those hours are subject to change according to demand.
PHOTO ABOVE: The Two Chicks District Co. crew includes (l-r) Kelsy Gray, Alexa Howell, store owner Mina Starsiak Hawk (with two-year-old son, Jack) and Karen Laine. Starsiak Hawk and Laine founded Two Chicks and a Hammer.
Other photo:
Visitors look over the new Bates-Hendricks store during a press preview on June 13.
