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WEST FARGO — Stone Town Grill in West Fargo is closing.
The last day of business at 705 32nd Ave. E. will be Sunday, Dec. 4, according to a Facebook message from co-owner Jessica Larghe posted Monday, Nov. 28 .
The restaurant opened in late November 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic . And it was affected from the start by the many changes the pandemic spurred in the restaurant industry.
Larghe, who started Stone Town Grill with her husband, Marty, said in her message to customers that it all proved to be too much, handicapping operations from the start.
“It is with great sadness that we must announce that Stone Town Grill will be permanently closing. Our last day of business is Sunday, December 4th,” Larghe wrote.
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“Since our ill-timed opening in November 2020, the obstacles to running this business have always outweighed the opportunities. Marty and I have put all that we could into this place, but with all the ways covid changed the world and the ongoing economic difficulties to our industry, we simply are unable to continue,” she wrote.
The Forum has reached out to Larghe for further comment.
The restaurant concept is centered around “build your own bowl.” Customers move down a buffet line to fill a large bowl, starting with pasta, rice, quinoa or salad, then adding any combination of more than 20 vegetables and meat or plant-based proteins.
Diners then move on to another buffet stop, with a dozen different sauces featuring flavor profiles from around the world, including China, Korea, Thailand, India, Africa, the Mediterranean (Italy, Greece), Mexico, Jamaica, Tex-Mex, and sweet and smoky American barbecue.
“We wanted to take some world flavors and make it approachable for people,” Larghe said in a November 2020 interview with The Forum.
Marty Larghe has many years of experience in the restaurant industry. As Stone Town Grill was preparing to open, he had already spent a nearly 16-year stint with Pentex Restaurant Group, where he was vice president of operations for four HuHot Mongolian Grills in two states, she said.
In her Monday morning Facebook message, Larghe thanked the restaurant’s customers and praised its staff.
“We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us these last two years - with your business, your encouragement, your prayers - we appreciate you and have been honored to serve you! We are equally appreciative of our wonderful staff that have been so loyal and worked so hard to bring guests a great dining experience. We wish great things for each of you as you move on to other pursuits. We are grateful for the extra time spent with each of Marty’s kids and his niece, who all worked at Stone Town. The quality time and camaraderie were special to share.”
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Larghe added that she and her husband felt blessed to have opened the restaurant.
“And though our path is uncertain, we have peace knowing that God is in control and will work all things for our good and His glory. If you are one who prays, we ask for your prayers for us to seek God’s will as we take the next steps in our lives,” she wrote. “We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to pursue something we love for the last two years. We hope to see as many of you as possible this week. We love you all.”
In the comments of the Stone Town Grill Facebook post, Larghe included instructions for customers to redeem gift cards.
“All Stone Town Grill gift cards will be accepted, as well as black Stone Town Grill promo cards and KVLY deal of the week coupons dated 09/2022. All other coupons, vouchers, offers and promotions are now void as of today 11/28/2022 and will not be accepted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you are able to use your gift cards this week. Thank you for your understanding,” she wrote.
The Larghes decided to open the restaurant after seeing the rapid housing, retail and commercial growth south of Interstate 94 in southwest Fargo and West Fargo.
“The way that we looked at it, this strip is right on the edge of where it’s growing,” Larghe said in November 2020. “We felt it was going to be busy for a while to come.”
In June of this year, the nearby Buffalo Wings and Rings sports bar and restaurant closed .
The franchise eatery at 695 32nd Ave. E. was run by the husband and wife team of Al and Mary Hauck.
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Buffalo Wings and Rings had a three-year run in that location, having opened in July 2019.
