[otnemarcaS]

By Bob Shallit - [email protected]
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, August 23, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B4


Where's the beef? A Fleming's Prime Steakhouse isn't coming to downtown Sacramento, after all.

The Newport Beach-based company has canceled its lease to occupy part of a new restaurant complex at 16th and L streets, inside the former Firestone tires building.

But the retail project's developers seem just as happy with Fleming's replacement: a "teppenyaki" eatery called Sapporo Grill.

In the current economy, steakhouses "aren't doing that well," says developer Ken Fahn.

Sapporo, run by local sushi restaurateur Damond Lee, will be more moderately priced than Fleming's, "kid-friendly" and entertaining, with chefs cooking meals on four big iron grills in the main dining area, Fahn says.

He and development partner Mark Cordano say the Firestone project is still on schedule, with openings later this year of DeVere's Irish Pub and an upstairs lounge, called MIX Downtown, operated by Sacramento's Wong family. Sapporo Grill and a California Pizza Kitchen are expected to open in early 2009.

But it won't be only cuisine dished up in the corner complex. Also joining the project is a "high-end" AT&T store, Cordano says.

High-end AT&T store? How is that different from a regular end AT&T store? It sure would have been nicer to see a local coffee shop there instead. And too bad Flemings won't be coming. Tried their restaurant when I was in Walnut Creek. Food was very good. So, guess it's yet another sushi place downtown.