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Posted on February 17, 2015 at 10:05 AM

ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) Construction of the Loop Trolley is set to begin in March, according to Chris Poehler, administer of the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District.

The trolley will run on a 2.2 mile fixed-track electrical system along Delmar Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue. The trolley will connect The Loop restaurant, shopping, arts and entertainment districts to Forest Park, including a stop at the Missouri History Museum. There will be a total of 10 stops along the trolley track.

Construction will begin in March with the installation of a roundabout at Trinity and Delmar Boulevard. Construction on the trolley track is expected to begin near the end of May on Delmar Boulevard near Kingsland.

The Trolley is expected to be completed in 2016.

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Construction of Loop Trolley to begin in March

It has been more than 11 years since an Arbys restaurant has served roast beef sandwiches in the La Crosse area.

But an Omaha, Neb.-based franchisee hopes to start construction in early spring on an Arbys just south of Woodmans Food Market in Onalaska. The restaurant would open in early summer at the now-vacant site, between the state Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles building and the Microtel motel.

Franchisee DRM Inc. has entered into an agreement to buy the site, according to an application to the city of Onalaska for variances needed for a proposed new sign that would bear both Woodmans and Arbys names. The Onalaska Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing on the request at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Onalaska City Hall.

The sale is contingent on the sign.

The La Crosse area has been without an Arbys since another franchisees location in Valley View Mall closed in December 2003.

Weve wanted to open an Arbys in the greater La Crosse area for quite some time, said Abbey Ramsey, DRM director of marketing. We chose this site because it was one of the last remaining sites in Onalaskas primary retail corridor with high visibility from both I-90 and Hwy. 16, and high traffic counts. Not to mention the numerous customer requests weve received for an Arbys in the La Crosse area.

DRM owns and operates 68 Arbys restaurants in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin, including the one in Tomah.

Shogun Sushi and Hibachi restaurant opened Feb. 8 in a new building at the former Bakers Square restaurant site at 1227 Crossing Meadows Drive in Onalaska.

The Japanese restaurants owners live in the Twin Cities and own several other Japanese eateries. The new Onalaska restaurant serves a variety of upscale Japanese cuisine, including seafood, steak, chicken and vegetable courses with a Japanese flavor.

Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Brunch is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Dinner is served from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday.

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Steve Cahalan: Arby's planning store in Onalaska

February 14, 2015 12:00 AM Share with others:

By Mahita Gajanan / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium reopens today after a six-week closure for construction on some new ventures, including a new exhibit and a restaurant.

The zoo on Friday announced plans to open a new exhibit in addition to the launch of its new Jambo Grill restaurant. The exhibit, called The Islands, is scheduled to open in June, and is being built to house only endangered species.

Were really trying to get the animals up close and personal, said Barbara Baker, the zoos president and CEO.

The 22,000-square-foot outdoor exhibit will open in a six- to seven-acre area on a hill that has been closed to the public since 1991, said Ms. Baker. Construction began two weeks ago, and once complete will include waterfalls, a sandbox, palm trees and other tropical motifs to create an island feel.

Its the first new exhibit in seven years and will include Visayan warty pigs, siamangs, clouded leopards, Galapagos tortoises and Philippine crocodiles, said Ms. Baker. Pittsburgh Zoo works with other zoos across the country on breeding programs for endangered species, and plans to breed the animals once all arrive at the zoo.

Penguins on Parade will start at 11:30 a.m. today, though the event has been canceled for Sunday due to a forecast for low temperatures.

Mahita Gajanan: mgajanan@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1964.

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With a new exhibit and restaurant, Pittsburgh Zoo reopens

CLEARWATER

The familiar roadside signs are there. An aged, clapboard facade gives that roadhouse feel. That and the peanuts on the floor.

For the most part it's still the same Cody's Roadhouse, except this one has a Sea Dog craft brewery attached to it.

After a recent merger of the Clearwater outlets of the two chains, the marriage is working and could bring changes most notably Sea Dog craft beers to other Cody's franchises.

"Cody's has an aging clientele but we could use a little element of something new and exciting," said Mark Weber, manager with the restaurant chain. "This could be something unique."

Sea Dog Brewing Company opened its first Florida operations two years ago in an expansive building off U.S. 19 and Enterprise Road.

It was the first expansion for the Maine brewery into Florida. A location in Orlando opened next. While the craft beer was flowing, problems brewed inside. There were constant menu changes and the cavernous bar never seemed full.

There were struggles from the start partly because of the construction along U.S. 19, said Dan Bolduc, spokesman for Sea Dog in Florida.

The brewpub closed in May 2014 and reopened with the new concept Oct. 6 when the owners of Sea Dog, who own the building, bought the Cody's franchise and moved it about 50 feet.

A hallway filled with Sea Dog T-shirts and other items connects the tasting room with the roadhouse restaurant. Here there are no peanuts on the floor. There are rich leather couches and some TVs it's like a humidor meets a living room. Mug club mugs hang on the wall beneath the shiny beer taps.

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Cody's, Sea Dog join forces in Clearwater

While his presence is already well known in Bowling Green, Dale Augenstein is about to have another foothold in the community.

The 1981 WKU graduate is purchasing the former Mariahs restaurant building on State Street. Over the next several months, Augenstein will work to convert the building into a second location for his Steamer Seafood restaurant.

Augenstein has become reattached to WKU and Bowling Green, where he has many friends and family in the surrounding area.

I thought, if Im going to be in Bowling Green this often, I might as well start a business, Augenstein said.

While Augenstein started the first Steamer Seafood in Hilton Head, South Carolina in the early 90s, the opening of the Bowling Green restaurant wont be the first time that Augensteins brand of seafood has been served in town. For the past three years, Augenstein has been serving his food in the Big Red tent at basketball games.

Once we started serving our concession food, people were asking when we would start a restaurant here, Augenstein said.

Over several years, Augenstein began a search for the ideal location to house his restaurant. Finally, once the former Mariahs restaurant building was put up for sale, his idea became much more feasible.

When the Mariahs facility became available, that piqued my interest tremendously, Augenstein said.

Mariahs success in that location, over the past three decades, has provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase our product, he said. After completing an interior redesign and construction, Augenstein hopes to open the Bowling Green Steamer Seafood on Sept. 1, 2015.

At the Hilton Head restaurant, Augenstein said they focus on serving the freshest food possible while providing an fun-filled atmosphere, including acoustic entertainment. He said they will attempt to replicate as much as they can for the Bowling Green location.

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WKU alumnus buys former Mariahs restaurant

Restaurant Equipment
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Restaurant Equipment - Video

MUKWONAGO, WI When the Gatlinburg, TN, Hard Rock Caf announced its move to nearby Pigeon Forge, they let the community know that the restaurant would not only be expanding, but refreshing its image. An exterior sign with Banker Wire mesh combines a modern look with the restaurant's familiar logo.

The Hard Rock Caf has had a restaurant in Eastern Tennessee for more than 14 years. It announced the move from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge in February 2014. A desire for a larger space and free parking motivated the relocation, but the restaurant also presents a more contemporary look in its new space. The 12,000-square-foot building seats 302 guests and offers a private event space and a live music stage.

Designers of the space specified woven wire mesh to serve as a modern backdrop to the familiar Hard Rock Caf logo featured on the exterior sign. General contractor VWCA Construction, Madisonville, Tennessee, directed them toward Banker Wire mesh.

"Banker Wire was more competitive in pricing than the other companies being considered by the design team," says Joshua Croft, of VWCA Construction. "Banker Wire's determination to assist me instilled confidence in specifying their product."

Banker Wire S-15 mesh was hoisted 40 feet in the air for its installation. The S-15 pattern, situated behind the restaurant's logo, features a wide flat wire that is crimped in continuous waves. The undulating stainless steel wire reflects the neon of the Hard Rock Caf's sign, helping the restaurant's exterior exude excitement.

The Pigeon Forge Hard Rock Caf opened in May 2014.

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About Banker Wire: Banker Wire is the world's leading manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh for architectural and industrial applications. With the most modern and productive mill in the U.S., Banker Wire provides custom-weaved material for any aesthetic on any scale from intricate design highlights to expansive building facades. Banker Wire's investment in its people and equipment provides its customers with innovative and value-based products that solve problems and exceed expectations. For more information, call 1-800-523-6772 or visit http://www.bankerwire.com.

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Banker Wire Mesh Helps Tennessee Hard Rock Caf Begin Next Act

Coopers seafood restaurant in Pittston is for sale for $1.5 million, but owner Jack Cooper said business is great, it is not closing and hes not in a hurry to sell it.

Cooper, 61, said he and his 60-year-old brother Paul have been in the restaurant business since they were 9 years old and they want more time off to spend with their families and to take a vacation.

While the landmark Pittston restaurant is listed for sale for $1.5 million on the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association of Realtors website, Cooper said if he does not get that amount, he wont sell it. If the right person comes along, Cooper said he would sell the Pittston restaurant so they could have more time for themselves.

The Coopers also operate a seafood restaurant in Scranton that he said they are not selling. Their father, John Cooper, started the Scranton restaurant in 1948.

Coopers seafood restaurant at 304 Kennedy Blvd. in Pittston was owned and operated by the Cooper family since 1992. Jack and Paul Cooper work at the Pittston and Scranton restaurants.

The restaurant business is seven days a week. Anyone who works in the restaurant business could tell you that, Cooper said. Its a lot of work having two major businesses that do millions of dollars each in business. I want to go on a vacation like a normal person but were going to continue to run that (Scranton) restaurant.

More than 60 full-time and part-time employees work at the Pittston restaurant and more than 120 work at the Scranton restaurant, Cooper said.

Cooper said if he does sell the Pittston location, he hopes someone would continue to operate the restaurant.

I love the Pittston location, Cooper said. Its in great shape. Theres a gorgeous view and its busy.

Charles Adonizio of Atlas Realty, which is selling the property, would not comment.

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Coopers Pittston location for sale, not closing

LIBERTY TWP.

Steiner + Associates announced Tuesday the next restaurant and a comedy club to open at Liberty Center, the approximately $350 million mixed-use project under construction now at the Interstate 75, Ohio 129 and Liberty Way interchange in Liberty Twp.

Flip Side and The Funny Bone Comedy Club and Restaurant will join Brio Tuscan Grille, Cheesecake Factory, Kona Grill and Pie & Pints in the tenant mix, according to Anne Mastin, executive vice president for the projects developer Steiner.

Flip Side is a chef-driven burger, shake and craft beer concept using exclusively Ohio raised, grass-fed beef. The Funny Bone Comedy Club and Restaurant offers stand-up comedy in a showroom along with a complete menu of food and drinks, according to Steiner.

We are pleased to welcome these new tenants to Liberty Center, said Yaromir Steiner, chief executive officer of Steiner + Associates. As we get closer to our opening date in October, we will continue to announce a mix of diverse and exciting retail and entertainment tenants.

Liberty Center is slated to open in October this year.

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Liberty Center names two new tenants

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio - A Funny Bone Comedy Club and a Flip Side gourmet burger restaurant are the latest tenants coming to Liberty Center, the $350 million mixed-use project under construction in Butler County.

An executive with the Columbus-based co-developer of the project identified the tenants in a speech Tuesday to Commercial Real Estate Women of Greater Cincinnati.

Restaurants are important to the project because they really for us act as another anchor, AnneMastin, executive vice president for retail real estate at Steiner + Associates, said in an interview with WCPO following her talk. It brings shoppers into the center that are not competitive with specialty retailers. It brings people in that spend a long time in the project.

Mastin said a pair of new to the market restaurants will be announced in the next few months. A steakhouse and Mexican restaurant will be on the ground floor of the AC Marriott Hotel property, one of several key Liberty Center attractions previously announced.

The 65-acre project at I-75 and Ohio 129 will include a Dillards department store, the regions largest Dicks Sporting Goods store, along with the regions first Kona Grill, a 13-screen Cobb Theatres CineBistro and an AC Marriott Hotel.

An October 8 opening date has been announced for the project, which is modeled on Easton Towne Center near Columbus.

A press release describes Flip Side as a chef-driven burger, shake and craft beer concept using exclusively Ohio raised, grass-fed beef. The comedy club at Liberty Center will be the 11th Funny Bone location, featuring a complete menu of food and drinks.

Mastin is a 20-year veteran leasing executive who has filled more than two-dozen retail centers in her career. Mastin said restaurant tenants generated more than $100 million in revenue at Easton Towne Center last year, more than any department store anchor.

Liberty Center will have 62,000 square feet of restaurant space in its first phase.

It is a very good time for the restaurant business in America because of a lot of reasons that are macro-economic, shesaid. Gas prices are down. People feel they have more disposable income to go out for dinner. You cant buy your nightly meal off of the Internet.

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Gourmet burger joint headed to Liberty Center