NEWINGTON — The closed-down Shogun Japanese Steakhouse alongside the Spaulding Turnpike could also be become a brand new restaurant and bar with a canine park. The plan was delivered to the city by the founder and president of New Hampshire-based Rustic Crust pizza firm.
Rye resident Brad Sterl, the top of Rustic Crust and former chief government officer and co-owner of Foodee’s Inc., introduced his thought to the Newington Planning Board Monday night time. The building was constructed in 1975 and was previously Asia Restaurant previous to Shogun.
About half the area within the 16,500-square-foot footprint building, inactive for a number of years since Shogun closed in 2017, could be remodeled into a brand new restaurant and bar promoting pizzas, burgers and extra hand-held gadgets. The remaining area could be become a canine park with on-leash and off-leash areas, along with room for coaching and restricted canine daycare providers.
“The intent is that you’d be able to come in with your dog and visit the location, get a drink from the bar if you choose to,” Sterl stated Monday. “Then in the off-leash area, you can get takeout from the restaurant. Obviously the dogs cannot go into the actual restaurant portion.”
The entrepreneur has a imaginative and prescient past the potential of opening such an idea in Newington.
“Our intent is to go (create) multiple of these and then eventually franchise it,” Sterl stated.
Former Shogun Japanese Steakhouse property on marketplace for $3.9 million
Sterl’s proposal comes because the proprietor of the massive 347 Shattuck Way property — Wong, Mo Y Living Revocable Trust — has placed the building and lot in the marketplace for $3.9 million. During Monday’s assembly Sterl did not element plans to accumulate or lease the property.
Town property data notice that Newington final assessed the Shattuck Way building at simply over $1.5 million.
Exeter’s meals truck fiasco: Clyde’s Cupcakes wins spot as Jukebox Diner bows out
Kane Company founder and realtor dealer Jean Kane listed the 6.6-acre property. She didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Tuesday.
“The property has municipal utilities. It has a concrete basement under 3/4 of the building, providing ample storage room. With a 53,000 square foot, asphalt parking lot and access to Route 16, this property is easily accessible for commuters and customers,” a list for the property says.
Dog business particulars defined for Newington web site
Sterl stated his daughter is a canine coach within the White Mountains area and first pitched the concept to open a joint canine park and eatery to him a number of years in the past. Ever since, he has traveled to quite a few comparable businesses to raised formulate his business’ design, which includes buyers.
Each canine delivered to the proposed facility must include proof of vaccinations data and take a temperament take a look at on the potential business to see how it might mingle with different dogs, in keeping with the proposal. The firm would additionally require every canine to be spayed or neutered as soon as it’s turned a yr old.
The majority of the area could be for off-leash dogs, with the on-leash portion of the inside close by. Within the off-leash space could be areas separating smaller and extra timid dogs from bigger ones. An out of doors space for the dogs could be fenced in.
“We will have what we call ‘bark rangers,’ which are people that are highly-trained in dog behaviors (and) how to help manage (that). Should an event arise, they’re there to de-escalate and manage that situation with the dogs,” he stated.
A retail space with canine treats, referred to by Sterl as a “barkery,” and a espresso station promoting La Mulita merchandise can be deliberate for the inside.
Mark Gianniny, managing principal of McHenry Architecture in Portsmouth, mentioned the partial change of use plan at Monday’s assembly.
“Site work will be limited to mostly just converting some impervious surface that exists as patio space as well as use of it for exterior dog play areas,” he stated. “Since the Shogun’s closing, the owner, Mr. Wong, has maintained the property while listing the property also (for sale) as a restaurant.”
Board members questioned how noise and odor could be managed on the facility, with Sterl noting that anticipated staffers and sanitation processes would stop any points.
If the business was not allowed to have dogs outdoors previous 5 p.m. as a result of noise, Sterl would withdraw his software.
“The outside (portion) is a significant piece of the model, especially in the summertime. There will be some outside dog activities,” he stated.
“One of the advantages is that the owner has taken good care of the property since it’s been empty, which you don’t really see very often in Chinese restaurants or restaurants that have had a high grease factor, like a seafood restaurant,” Sterl added.
Monday’s dialogue of the plan was purely informational. No motion was taken by Planning Board members. The board might take up the merchandise once more as quickly as early April.
