New tenants to occupy former Ponderosa restaurant property

CROWN POINT | The vacant Ponderosa restaurant on Main Street will be demolished soon to make way for a new complex that will house at least two restaurants, including the relocating Pop's Italian Beef and Sausage.

John Neckus, of Ascend Real Estate Advisors in Chesterton, said the owner of the Pop's, who currently leases the space at 1150 N. Main St. in Crown Point, plans to build an 11,500-square-foot restaurant and retail structure for up to five businesses.

Neckus said Pop's would use 3,200 square feet for the main restaurant and use another 1,900 square feet as a party and entertainment room. The Little Italy family restaurant will be opening its third location in another 3,200-square-foot space of the complex.

The remaining space is available and can be separate 1,900-square-foot businesses or combined into one, Neckus said. He is looking for any type of business, retail or food service, interested in leasing the space.

The owner of Pop's already has a permit to demolish the Ponderosa, and Neckus said plans for the new enterprise will be completed in 30-45 days. The project will then have to go through the city approval process, but the owner hopes to start construction by May 1 and be ready to open Sept. 1.

"The mayor and his staff have been wonderful to work with," Neckus said, "and the hope is that this project will be one of many where we can take a property that is in foreclosure or is vacant or underutilized and put in new businesses and services to turn them into productive properties."

Mayor David Uran said the Ponderosa was a family owned business for many years and the city was sorry to see it close, but he is excited to see Pop's moving there.

"We've had some initial meetings with them, and we anticipate in the next couple of months to see some action," Uran said.

Neckus said he recently signed on to do something similar for the former Anderson car dealership on Main Street just north of the Ponderosa.

"We are happy to work with the city to make these type of efforts possible," he said. "We want to bring together the people and investors to turn these properties into productive use."

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New tenants to occupy former Ponderosa restaurant property