Corrugated box machinery manufacturer Haire Group adds new client services manager

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Haire Group, a Merrillville-based corrugated box machinery manufacturer, has added a new client services manager.

The 45-year-old company hired Tina Christiansen to serve in the role of maintaining long-term relationships with clients.

She started her career in the golf industry and has long worked in customer service.

Outside of work, Christiansen also has served as a volunteer for the VNA Hospice Center and the VNA Phoenix Center.

“In 1976, Tom Haire founded our company with a philosophy based on taking care of our people, taking care of our customers, doing the right thing and having fun," Haire Group President Mike Mulroe said. "Tina embodies that philosophy and in a short amount of time has taken our customer intimacy strategy to the next level. She’s engaging our customers in a way that ensures we’re getting their insights to improve all facets of our business to consistently exceed the customers’ expectations. We’re thrilled she’s leading this effort for us.”

Haire Group sells products like rotary die cutters, flexo folder gluers and scrap masters. It also supplies pre-owned products, parts and supports.

The company's sales have been strong, owner and chief operating officer Keith Umlauf said. The business continues to expand its inventory.

"Haire Group continued to grow and expand. In addition to our Apstar line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters and the Encore set-up-while-run line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, we began selling the Engico Jumbo flexo folder gluer," he said. "With our expansive line of machinery, we are able to pair clients with the best machinery solutions for the best value to meet their specific needs."

La Carreta Mexican Restaurant and Bar fires up the grill in Winfield early this week.

The Mexican restaurant with locations in Schererville and Merrillville is targeting a Monday or Tuesday opening for its new eatery in the former Anytime Fitness at 10711 Randolph St. in Winfield. It's just awaiting a final inspection.

La Carreta offers authentic cuisine like tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas and chimichangas. It has multiple nachos plates.

The traditional Mexican eatery has a number of steak, seafood and chicken entrees. One can get a T-bone with shrimp, pollo loco or Camarones el Caribe with mushrooms, onions and a simmering cheese sauce. The Camarones la Carreta cooks a pound of shrimp in garlic, onion and white wine.

A house special is the Arroz Texano that mixes steak, chicken and shrimp with grilled peppers, onions, tomatoes and cheese.

There's a kids' menu, lunch specials and combination plates. Dessert options include flan and deep-fried ice cream.

The restaurant also has a three-way liquor license allowing it to serve beer, wine and liquor. It specializes in margaritas, tequilas and cold imported beer.

For more information, visit www.lacarretarestaurantandbar.com.

Mi Tierra has been serving authentic Mexican food in a unique setting for more than two decades.

The casual dining restaurant served up hearty, homestyle Mexican food as planes took off and landed just outside the windows in the Griffith-Merrillville Airport. But now the longtime owner Jesus "Don Chuy" Toledo, a Mexican immigrant who served in the U.S. Army, is retiring and turning the restaurant space over to new owners.

"After 27 years in the restaurant business — 22 of them in the Griffith-Merrillville Airport — and some long discussions, Don Chuy and his family have decided they’re ready to take their next steps and are closing Mi Tierra. Our last day is June 30," Mi Tierra posted on social media. "But wait! Before you despair, we also have two other, even better announcements: First, we’re handing over the reins to Flako's Tacos, an East Chicago-based restaurant whose food truck has a strong fan base in Griffith. They’ll be bringing their amazing Birria tacos and flavor to town, but they’re also keeping some of what we do, too. It’s a win-win! They’ll be up and running in July."

Mi Tierra had fare like Steak Ranchero, Fish Caribbean and the Three Amigos combo. Diners could ask what's cooking for Don Chuy's latest special.

But it's not the final chapter for Don Chuy.

"And because you know no one can keep him down (trust us — we’ve tried), Don Chuy will still be whipping up spices and chorizo in a nearby space, so he’ll still be floating around and hopes to see the many of you he’s come to know and love. We also hope he takes a well-deserved vacation or six, but you know how that goes," Mi Tierra posted on social media. "We’re so very grateful to each one of you who’ve come through our doors and gotten to know us through the years. It’s bittersweet knowing we raised a whole family within these walls, but it’s also time for a new family to grow, and we hope you’ll show them the love and support you’ve shown us."

Where's the beef?

It's coming soon to Indiana Harbor.

Wendy's is opening its latest Northwest Indiana location in the downtown of East Chicago's Indiana Harbor neighborhood. A new fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru is under construction at the corner of Columbus Drive and Main Street, across from Subway in the Harbor's main commercial drag.

Wendy's offers old-fashioned square hamburgers, sea salt fries, baked potatoes, chili, Frosties and its famous nugs. Known for its irreverent social media presence, it overtook Burger King for second place by revenue, trailing only McDonald's as the top-selling fast-food burger joint.

The chain has multiple Northwest Indiana locations, including Hammond, Highland, Munster, Schererville, Merrillville, Crown Point, Portage, Chesterton, Valparaiso, Michigan City, LaPorte and Hebron.

Bulldog Ale House Food & Brews is now pouring drinks in downtown Lansing.

It took over the former Jack's Sports Pub and Eatery at 3325 Ridge Road. Billing itself as a burger, pizza and beer company, it's a local Chicagoland chain with locations in Algonquin, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, McHenry, New Lenox, North Aurora, Rogers Park and Rolling Meadows.

It serves traditional pub fare like burgers, sliders, tacos, pizza, wings, soups, salads and sandwiches. Signature entrees include chicken and waffles, pot pie, chicken parmesan and fish and chips. It also has shareable plates like truffle parmesan fries, garlic parmesan fries, loaded waffle fries, street corn, kale and artichoke dip and Italian beef egg rolls.

Sandwiches skew traditional with options like Rubens, Monte Cristos and French dips. Diners also can save room for house-made desserts like cheesecake and Rumchata bread pudding.

Drink options include beer, wine, liquor and cocktails.

For more information, visit bulldogalehouse.com.

The Love of Arts Community Center is now teaching art classes in Griffith.

Founder and Executive Director Sade Carrasquillo opened the community center at 1115 E. Ridge Road. It provides classes and artistic resources meant to spur creativity in both youth and adults.

"I have dreamed of this day, and still can't believe that it has finally happened," said Carrasquillo. "Our community deserves more outlets where we can creatively express ourselves. I am honored to be one of those providers."

It hosts arts, crafts and STEM activities for kids between 6 months and five years from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

It also offers beginner guitar classes, VR Graffiti Art, Beginners Videography, Acting, Acrylic Painting, Hip Hop Dance and other programming for youth and adults, as well as art classes for people in the Lake County work release program. Most creative classes are six weeks in length.

"All of us have some type of talent and many want to explore new ones," Carrasqullio said. "The Love of Arts Community Center is here to cultivate these talents and of course offer fun and memorable experiences. We are excited to expand our reach to the town of Griffith as well as all of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland" said Sade Carrasquillo, founder of For the Love of Arts Community Center."

For more information, visit artsforlove.org.

Illinois Dermatology Institute recently expanded its footprint in Northwest Indiana by opening an office in Munster.

The clinic is now treating patients for skin conditions at 9601 Calumet Ave., Suite E, in the Centennial Village development by Centennial Park. It treats conditions like acne, skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, nail disorders, rosacea, warts, allergy patch testing, hair loss, cosmetic dermatology and pediatric dermatology. It performs procedures like mohs surgery and surgical excisions.

The Illinois Dermatology Institute office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information, call 219-491-3376.

The WhoaZone floating water park at Whihala Beach in Whiting has reopened for the season.

The family attraction features slides, stairs and other inflatables in the lake. It's a floating obstacle course at 1561 Park Road in Whiting.

Kids can climb stairs, run around and splash into the water while lifeguards supervise.

For more information, call 219-234-2615 or visit https://whoa.zone/whiting/.

Ella Jayms, a women’s boutique, is celebrating the third anniversary of its brick-and-mortar location in downtown Valparaiso.

"Ella Jayms is a woman-owned, lifestyle boutique that’s dedicated to women of all generations and celebrating life’s happiest moments," Customer Experience Lead Raeann Grusak said. "We take pride in providing a warm, welcoming environment for all & ensure that each person who walks through our doors leaves feeling happier and uplifted."

The boutique is located at 260 Franklin St., Suite 102.

"Giving back and paying it forward is the soul of our company," she said. "Since we opened our doors in the summer of 2020, we have had the honor of donating time and money right back into NWI to help our neighbors in need through nonprofits like The Caring Place, Women United, The Porter County Community Foundation, Housing Opportunities and Hilltop Neighborhood House."

It stocks clothes, footwear, accessories, home decor and Foggy Dog Ruby Dog Bow Ties to "make your pup extra dapper."

"While we reflect on these past three years, we want to thank our amazing community and customers," Grusak said. "Being a part of Valparaiso has been an honor; we’ve loved every second of it. We’re beyond grateful for the support we've received and look forward to many more years of celebration."

For more information, visit www.ellajayms.com.

Shops on 41 in Schererville is now 100% leased.

Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial, one of the leading commercial real estate firms in Northwest Indiana, leased out the last two spots in the new strip mill on Indianapolis Boulevard just south of U.S. 30 and the Crossroads of the Nation intersection.

A high-end barber shop and dental practice both signed leases. The new tenants plan on starting construction immediately.

“We’re excited for the two new tenants to join the existing strong tenant lineup and get us to 100% occupied, said Brett McDermott of Latitude Commercial. Both of the tenants will benefit from the great visibility on 41 and all of the tenants complement each other well. The Landlords did a great job on the design and look of the building and are happy to have filled the last remaining space.”

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Tina Christiansen

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Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.