Restaurant tumbles to make room for bakery

Demolition began Tuesday morning on the building that housed the former Beijing Restaurant.

The Asian cuisine restaurant at 1951 Scottsville Road had been closed for a couple of years. Holland Inc. construction equipment roared on the property between Thoroughbred Square and The Medical Center Home Care Program. The building, which has had several uses, is being torn down to make way for a Corner Bakery Cafe, according to David Bernado, construction manager, who was on the site Tuesday.

Half Baked Partners signed an agreement with Corner Bakery Cafe in April to introduce 18 neighborhood bakery cafes into the Kentucky and Tennessee markets, according to a news release from Corner Bakery Cafe.

The building that will be on Scottsville Road will be a free-standing, 4,000-square-foot building, said Jenifer Watkins, director of marketing for Raffertys Inc.; Montana Grille; Double Dogs and Corner Bakery Cafe. The new restaurant will employ about 35 people.

Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast-casual bakery caf that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, paninis and soups, according to cornerbakerycafe.com.

Watkins said she expects the restaurant to open in early spring.

Basically, were looking for another way to grow our business. Corner Bakery fits our philosophy, Watkins said. Bowling Green is our hometown, so thats why we wanted to build one here first so we can learn all about it before we expand it.

The building had its start in Bowling Green as Kingfish. An October 1978 Daily News advertisement sought employees for the restaurant billed as Americas newest and most exciting seafood restaurant. That was well before a Red Lobster opened in Bowling Green. The building also was home to Steamboat Salvage before becoming a restaurant again.

Michael May of Bowling Green, a detective with the Kentucky State Police, has fond memories of the building when it was Kingfish and Beijing Restaurant.

"I tried to go about once a week if I could convince everybody to go," May said.

Read the original:
Restaurant tumbles to make room for bakery