MOORHEAD — The former site of the Speak Easy Restaurant and Lounge in south Moorhead could soon become home to a bar and grill called Onyx.
That's according to Daniel Saintal, who said Wednesday, April 19, that he is in the process of working with the city of Moorhead to obtain the necessary permits to open Onyx.
The Moorhead City Council is scheduled to consider approval of a liquor license for Onyx Bar and Grill at its meeting Monday evening, April 24.
Saintal, who goes by the nickname "DX," said that if all goes as planned, he hopes to open the new business sometime in May.
Saintal, whol is also an owner of the Skill Cutz Barber College and the Skill Cutz Barber Shop, both in Fargo, said he will operate Onyx out of the former Speak Easy site under a lease-to-buy arrangement.
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The Speak Easy opened in 1974 and closed its doors in May 2022 .
A Facebook page set up for Onyx states the business will be opening soon and features video of the interior filled with flashing lights and music.
Saintal, who lives in West Fargo, said Onyx will bring "a little bit different vibe" to the Fargo-Moorhead area, featuring a varied menu that borrows a myriad of flavors from the Caribbean, including Haitian, Jamaican, and Dominican cuisine.
In addition to food, Onyx will also be a place for karaoke and dancing, according to Saintal.
A number of aspects of the Speak Easy's decor remain preserved at this point, including the restaurant's signature automobile, a 1931 Auburn 898.
The car has been inside the Speak Easy since the restaurant was built in 1974 and Saintal said Onyx has no plans to remove the vehicle.
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