Call it an Asian cuisine invasion: Restaurants with menus from the Far East keep popping up around the Gateway of the West.
Last month, a new sushi bar and a new Chinese restaurant - 101 Sushi Bar and Lucy's North Chinese Cuisine, respectively - opened their doors. Now, a Japanese restaurant - Samurai Japanese Cuisine - has filed plans to open at 1775 45th St. S.
That's the former site of New York NY Fresh Deli, which closed last January after less than a year in business. On Sept. 1, Samurai filed plans to remodel the interior of that location.
The restaurant is registered to Yun Chen. It's unclear when it will open, and Chen could not be reached for comment.
When 101 Sushi Bar opened, chef Sawe Zhu said he was hoping to fill a Japanese cuisine niche. Now, Samurai joins a roster of Japanese restaurants that already includes 101, Wasabi on N.P. Avenue, Kobe Japanese Cuisine on 15th Avenue South, and Yuki Hana on 25th Street South.
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In other words, that niche may start to feel a little crowded.
West Fargo bar scene may soon expand
On the topic of crowded: JL Beer patrons who can't get a seat (or even a place to lean) in the teeming but tiny Fargo bar might have another location to choose from soon.
The bar's owners applied for a liquor license in West Fargo late last month. They didn't return calls for comment, but the license application identifies the site as 810 13th Avenue E., which is currently a vacant lot.
JL Beers is owned by Randy Thorson and Warren Ackley, who also own Old Broadway in downtown Fargo. Thorson's sons - Lance, 28, and Shawn, 30, also have ownership stakes in the company, and Lance is listed as the manager of the new location.
It's not the only bar with designs on that particular corner of West Fargo: On Aug. 10, Adam and Cliff Tornell of Fargo applied for a liquor license to open Bar Nine at 1405 Prairie Parkway, just up the street from the planned JL Beers.
West Fargo City Administrator Jim Brownlee said the City Commission has decided to table Bar Nine's application until its Sept. 20 meeting.
About Trade Talk
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Over the coming weeks, readers may notice a few differences in Trade Talk -a few fewer digest items, a few more narratives, a little more shop talk, as the name already implies. Our goal is to transition the column into a conversation piece for the area business community, driven by analysis and commentary to spark discussion.
Have suggestions or talking points you'd like to see in Trade Talk? Contact Forum reporter Marino Eccher at meccher@forumcomm.com or (701) 241-5502.
You can also connect with Trade Talk online at www.tradetalk.areavoices.com .
Readers can reach Forum reporter Marino Eccher at (701) 241-5502
