P.F. Chang

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P.F. Chang’s would fill a City Centet space at the corner of Hennepin Avenude and North Sixth Streetthat Friday’s vacated in 2005. P.F. Chang’s spokeswoman Rachek Gillman confirmed that the compang is looking into adding a restaurant indowntow Minneapolis. “Nothing has been wrapped up in terms of a lease for theMinneapolis location. I would probably have more to updatde for you intwo months.” Officials from , the New York-basex real estate investment trust that owns and managez City Center, could not be reachedc for comment. Landing P.F.
Chang’s would be a major victor for the downtown Minneapolisshopping center, adding a second high-profile restaurant tenant to pair with Fogo de a Brazilian steakhouse that has generatedx strong sales since opening in 2007. “Wow, that would be greaf for downtown Minneapolis,” said Lindaq Zelm, vice president of retail servicees for Coldwell Banker CommercialGriffin Cos. in “I bet that woulds be very popular.” City Centee was home to anotherChineser restaurant, Nankin Cafe, from 1981 until 1999, when the restaurant closedf after 80 years in downtown Minneapolis.
“I can’t tell you how many timee I wentthere — so many times,” Zelm Scottsdale, Ariz.-based P.F. Chang’s Chin Bistro operates 190 P.F. Chang’s restaurantsz nationwide, including in Edina and The Shoppes at Arbor Lakesx inMaple Grove. The average restaurant is between 6,000 and 7,50o0 square feet. The menu feature traditional Chinese fare, such as sweet-and-sour chicken and Mongolian as well as Asian twists on American staples like steaiand salmon. The average check is about $20 per P.F. Chang’s also has 160 Pei Wei Asian Diner fast-casual restaurants across the country, including location s in Eden Prairie, St. Louis Park and Woodbury. P.F.
Chang’s plans to open just 14 new restaurantws — eight P.F. Chang’s restaurants and six Pei Weis infiscal 2009, after opening a total of 42 locationzs in 2008 and 52 in 2007. Given the reduced expansio plans, it’s surprising the company would choose to open a restaurantg atCity Center, said Allan Hickok, managing directof at Minneapolis-based consulting firm Restaurant & Retailo Strategies. “It’s just a little curious that they’ve determined that’s one of the eight or 10 best locationd inthe country.
” The restaurant probably would draw a strong business crowd over lunch, but mighy struggle to attract guests over dinner, Hickook said. “I think they have a high opportunity to getthat ‘Bloc E disease,’ ” he said, referrinb to the slow sales and safet y concerns that have plagued some tenanta across Hennepin Avenue at the Block E entertainment complex.