Instead of scoops of ice cream, diners at the former Friendly’s building in Glenville will soon be able to dine on sushi rolls and Japanese fare.
Neon Sushi is planning to open at the former American-style chain restaurant in about three months, and the upscale Japanese eatery will be making extensive interior renovations. Five area Friendly’s closed at the start of last year as the company was unable to negotiate lower leases. Since then, Glenville officials have searched for a new tenant in its redeveloped town center.
“This is a critically important piece of the revitalization of the commercial corridor,” Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said. “I think this adds diversity to the commercial corridor because we don’t have anything like it. I think it is going to be a great business for us here in Glenville and I am looking forward to them having a successful restaurant.”
Koetzle said he met with the new tenants last month and said, “it was a great family.” He admitted he hasn’t tried sushi before, though.
Efforts to reach the restaurant proprietor were unsuccessful. But property broker Bruce Ginsburg, principal and co-owner of IKON Realty Group, LLC, said Neon Sushi will “fill a void” in the food scene.
“Given that this is a high visibility intersection in the heart of the retail corridor it was really a natural and a very good fit,” Ginsburg said.
IKON has handled the leasing of all of the former area Friendly’s, and Ginsburg said the buildings are optimal for restaurateurs.
“It is a natural for any restaurateur to want to occupy, because the buildings were historically well maintained, in good locations, so as a results a lot of the infrastructure or requirements for a new restaurant were already in place,” he said.
He added there was “quite a bit” of interest in the property.
Koetzle on Wednesday, Jan. 2, said he believed construction permits had been issued. The contractor for the project, Eric Chen, said renovations would likely take 90 days to complete.
Chen said the restaurant would offer Asian cuisine and feature a sushi bar. The owners also have previous experience operating a restaurant, he said.
In other town center news, Koetzle continued his push to receive support from the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority to receive funding to revitalize the town center through its new lighting district.
The town had sought to receive funding through the regional Economic Development Council proposed projects to the state this year, but it wasn’t awarded funds.
“This is really an important project not just for Glenville, but for the county,” Koetzle said. “If you go through the town center right now … it is darker than I have ever seen it now. We really can’t have a dark commercial corridor.”
The town is hoping to install new, energy efficient lighting and beautify the area. Koetzle said light also becomes a public safety concern as the town moves towards making the area more walkable.