A lumberyard with offices and show rooms could be built at the site of a closed restaurant in north Grand Forks, with the yard expected to be open this fall.
The city's Planning and Zoning Commission approved a rezoning request this week that would allow Simonson Lumber to build the yard just south of the Al's Grill and Catering building at 3615 Gateway Drive. Plans indicate officials' hope to convert the restaurant building into office space with show rooms.
Al's closed its doors in May 2015 after the restaurant's co-owner, Al Decker, said he wanted to retire. Former co-owner Scott Doyea opened Scotty's Deli on South Washington Street several months later.
Rick Simonson, chief operating officer of Simonson Lumber's parent company Miller Holdings, expects employees to move into the offices by July if the City Council approves the rezoning when council members meet May 15. If all goes according to plan, the lumberyard could be operational this fall.
Simonson Lumber's office is currently renting space on the south end of town while the lumberyard is on the north end. Consolidating the two sites into one will be more convenient for customers, Simonson said.
