WEST FARGO - There’s a new dining tradition in West Fargo.
Traditions Restaurant & Bar plans to open its dining room at 3330 Sheyenne St. on Thursday, May 7, co-owner Brian Day said Monday, May 4.
The eatery has been filling takeout and app-delivery orders for about 10 days, he said.
“We’re trying to give people what’s lacking: good service and quality food and a good price,” Day said.
He quickly ticked off his three big reasons for opening his eatery south of Interstate 94.
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Fit-up was easier because the spot had previously housed Hooligan’s; little competition nearby; and being near the West Fargo Sports Arena, The Lights at Sheyenne 32, and several fast-growing housing developments gives him a huge base of potential customers.
“We just want to bring something to the area that’s missing,” he said.
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The opening menu is a stripped down version of a broader menu to come in the next few weeks. It includes a selection of appetizers, salads, fresh burgers, sandwiches and broasted chicken.
The restaurant will eventually expand hours to include breakfast, Day said.
As they enter, customers are greeted by a pentagonal bar, with a tan brick face and a concrete counter with a funky industrial look metallic epoxy finish.There’s dining and gaming on the right, and a more open dining area to the left. There will be 26 televisions in Traditions, eight at the bar and the rest distributed along the walls, he said.
Video pull-tab machines line one wall, and there will be darts, blackjack and a pool table available.
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Most of the tables are already spaced around the restaurant, though booths won’t come in until June, thanks to backlogs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day got his start at Billy’s Corner Bar and Grill in Vergas, Minn.
His father had started Billy’s and Day worked there from 1990 to 2009. He also worked with Checkers Billiards in St Cloud, Minn. from 2000 to 2008. He then sold Billy’s to relatives, and worked with Applebees for a while. Most recently, he worked as a transportation supervisor in Fargo for Food Services of America.
The urge to run a restaurant again came to him while tailgating at Bison games, where he was “the resident chef.”
“I realized how much I missed menu creation,” Day said.
He is joined in the venture by two silent partners, he said.
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Tradition’s charitable gaming will support West Fargo Hockey Association. There will also be bingo and trivia nights, he said.
The space still required considerable renovation, including ripping out a stage.
“We want a place where people can actually talk to each other,” he said.
The walls have also gone from all-black to a light grayish-tan.
“There’s something about brightening it up,” Day said.
The 6,100-square-foot restaurant can easily seat 200, but as long as social distancing remains the norm, about 100 can be accommodated safely. There is a 1,900-square-foot patio available in nice weather.
Hours for now are 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. When breakfast service begins, hours will expand to 6 a.m. to 2 p.m, he said.
Business shutdowns so far to stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 haven’t affected Traditions too adversely. In some ways, Day says it may have helped him, making it easier for him to hire experienced cooks and other workers.
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“We’ve got a lot of people with anything from five to 15 years of experience,” he said.
For more about the restaurant, including the menu and to order online, go to traditionswestfargo.com . Orders can also be phoned in at (701) 532-1376.
