By Mindy Norton
The Morning Sun
A new hibachi restaurant is likely to come to Stadium Mall in Mt. Pleasant.
Owner Hua Qin Lin and general contractor Tim Schlientz outlined details of the restaurant at the Mt. Pleasant Planning Commission meeting Thursday. The commission approved a special use permit.
The restaurant will be at 2108 and 2112 S. Mission in Stadium Mall, directly south of L.A. Nails.
Schlientz said the next step is to get the lease officially signed and then secure a liquor license. If all goes well, the restaurant could be opened in about six months.
Hua Qin Lin told planning commissioners that he previously owned a restaurant in Buffalo, N.Y., and currently owns a hibachi restaurant in Traverse City, where he lives.
He described the restaurant’s offerings as Japanese cuisine.
He said he was driving around looking for possible locations for another restaurant, and thought Mt. Pleasant would be a good choice. He also is considering a restaurant in Battle Creek after this one gets operational.
Planning commissioners asked if the restaurant would be geared toward a college student clientele.
Schlientz said the restaurant’s clientele would be the community at large, including visitors to Central Michigan University. The mall is located near the CMU campus.
He said they plan up to 10 hibachi tables and a sushi bar.
Assuming it gets a Class C license from the state, it would serve beer, wine and liquor.
The restaurant site will be approximately 3,700-square-feet.
Proposed hours of operation would be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the special use permit.