Former Leevers building back in business
After extensive remodel, former Washington Street grocery store opens as fitness club, restaurant, retail spaceLeevers closed its doors in 2007, and questions about the future of the 35,000-square-foot supermarket remained unanswered until last year.
- Demolition at Leevers site (2011)
- Inside the old Leevers building (2011)
After a four-year vacancy, the former Leevers building along one of Grand Forks’ busiest streets will soon have its second new tenant open for business.
Fuji’s Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood is tentatively set to open Feb. 1 on the north end of the South Washington Street building, manager John Cho said. The bulk of construction work to revamp the 7,500-square-foot space is finished, and crews should complete cosmetic finishes and final touches by the end of the month.
The first business, a 15,000-square-foot Planet Fitness health club, opened on the south side of the building Dec. 7 and has been busy ever since, manager Emily Bakke said.
“It’s a good location here, so the response has been very awesome,” she said.
Full again
Leevers closed its doors in 2007, and questions about the future of the 35,000-square-foot supermarket remained unanswered until last year.
Still owned by Colorado-based Leevers Development Corp., the building at one point seemed to be on track to being purchased as the site of a new public library.
But that possibility fizzled out last year, and plans for a new library were put on hold after voters rejected a proposed new tax to pay for the project.
That is when the owners opened up their options and began seeking tenants to lease the space, said Kevin Ritterman, president of Dakota Commercial and Development, which is marketing the building.
“I just think it’s good timing,” he said. “We’ve had nice luck with the economy in general in North Dakota, and actually we’ve seen an abundance of activity in Grand Forks. It’s a good sign.”
Ritterman said the company has heard from residents happy to see the building busy and in business once again, especially after a complete remodel of the exterior that began last August.
“It’s good to see the parking lot full,” he said.
Planet Fitness and Fuji’s together account for about two-thirds of the building, while the middle portion is being converted into space for a third tenant. Ritterman said there has been “good response” about the available space, which likely will host a new retail store, but nothing is finalized yet.
New restaurant
Cho said Fuji’s Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood already has started hiring and will eventually have a staff of 40 to 50 employees, most of them local residents. It has been difficult finding enough workers, he said — a wave of new restaurants have opened recently, including Olive Garden, Pizza Ranch, Ruby Tuesday and several others, which has put a crunch on the available workforce.
But he said the restaurant will stand out from the new choices in town and could become a destination, not just a place for a quick meal, because it will use the traditional Japanese teppanyaki style with chefs cooking food on iron griddles in front of the customers.
“The twirling of the knives, the spatulas, the flipping, it’s all a big show,” he said. “I think it’s dinner and entertainment.”
Fuji’s is hiring trained chefs from San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City to work the four open grills, each stationed behind countertops that can fit 24 customers at a time.
But customers also could sit at regular booths or tables to eat lunch or enjoy sushi, Cho said.
The restaurant will have a full bar with several varieties of wines, sake and beer, including two imported Japanese beers.
“It’s different and unique in terms of its hospitality and the Asian culture,” Cho said. “If people are going to spend their hard-earned money, we want them to be happy with where they’re spending it. That’s key for us.”
Fuji’s has seating for about 200 and will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Cho said Fuji’s is tentatively set to open Feb. 1, and a grand opening event will be held in mid-February.
Johnson reports on local business. Reach him at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send email to rjohnson@gfherald.com.
Tags: gf and egf, fujis japanese steak house and seafood, planet fitness, news, updates, news, business, food, restaurants, fujis, leevers
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