Restaurant

Columbus, Ohio -- Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Realty Investors said Tuesday that the Buckeye Hall of Fame Grill at Grandview Yard opened on Nov. 23 near the Ohio State University campus and downtown Columbus.

The 8,000-sq.-ft. restaurant features a full menu, a “Film Room” featuring a 140-in. projection screen and stage, more than 100 pieces of Ohio State Buckeye sports memorabilia and an outdoor patio.

Washington, D.C. - Douglas Development announced that Mike Isabella, former executive chef at Mediterranean restaurant  Zaytinya, and Bravo’s Top Chef  contestant, has leased 5,000 sq. ft. in a three-level Douglas Development-owned property at 707 6th Street, NW, in Washington, D.C.

Isabella will open a two-level Italian-inspired restaurant, Graffiato, in spring 2011.

North Miami Beach, Fla. - Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced two new tenants for Intracoastal Mall, a 234,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in North Miami Beach.

Hiro’s Yakko-San will open a 4,438-sq.-ft. Japanese restaurant in December 2010. And Dollar Tree has leased 10,200 sq. ft. and is slated to open a new store in early 2011.

Intracoastal Mall is anchored by TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Winn Dixie and Sunrise Cinemas.

Miramar, Fla. - Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced that five new restaurants have opened over the last few months at Miramar Square in Miramar, Fla.

Miramar Square is a 240,000-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Kohl’s, Staples and Dollar General.

The new restaurant openings include Golden Krust Caribbean Grill, L&L Market Bistro/Elle’s, Smitty’s Grill, La Coriana and Giardinos Gourmet Salads.

Other eateries slated to open in the next months include Coldstone Creamery and Sir Pizza.

New York City -- Forest City Ratner Cos., a subsidiary of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, announced Thursday that Dick's Sporting Goods, Orvis and REI, along with three national restaurant chains making their New York debuts, have join the growing tenant line-up at Westchester's Ridge Hill.

Atlanta -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Pei Wei Asian Diner has selected SRS to find its debut location in the state of Georgia.

Pei Wei was launched in July 2000 as a growth vehicle for P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. Currently, Pei Wei operates more than 165 company-owned stores in 20 states.
 

Milford, Conn. -- Don Fertman, chief development officer for the Subway sandwich chain, is the latest executive to go undercover on the CBS television series “Undercover Boss.” Fertman, a 29 year veteran of the restaurant chain, will be seen baking bread, stocking sandwich ingredients, slicing vegetables, taking inventories and serving customers, on the episode that airs Nov. 21, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Closing the lid on a local Jack in the Box

Near my Baton Rouge, La., neighborhood is a Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant that, from all cursory indications, had appeared to be surviving the recession.