A former executive chef and his wife plan to bring a new name to the restaurant going in the Sanders location in downtown Grand Forks.
Scott Franz and Rachel Franz purchased the 7,000-square-foot space at 22 S. Third St. last month and plan to name the restaurant Ely’s Ivy, Scott Franz told the Herald on Friday.
Elephants on the bar rail inside Sanders inspire the Ely’s half of the name, Scott Franz said. Ivy came from the plants crawling up the south side of the building. He said those two aspects were one of the couple’s favorite parts of the space.
Scott Franz was an executive chef for Toasted Frog in Grand Forks before he decided to buy the Sanders space. Kim Holmes sold the Sanders business to John “Sky” Manske in 2014, and the business moved to 322 DeMers Ave. under the name Sky’s Restaurant. The Sanders space has been empty since then.
Scott Franz told the Herald he hopes to have Ely’s Ivy open sometime this year.
