May 8, 2024

It won’t be much longer before a new breakfast and lunch spot emerges in a former neighborhood grocery building.

Perch, a locally owned new restaurant, is wrapping up construction at Ninth Street and Grange Avenue, while a law office has moved into the second floor.

Property redeveloper Alex Halbach, who’s also an attorney, bought the 1908 building at 100 S. Grange Ave. in 2021.

“It’s just been a lot of work,” he said. “I didn’t quite understand what I was biting off when we did this, but it’s going to be nice when it’s done. It’s going to be super pretty.”

His law firm, which has moved into the renovated office upstairs, shows a sense of what’s ahead with the rest of the building.

The second floor used to be apartments and now serves as a home for Halbach Szwarc Law Firm, which Halbach founded in 2023 and has grown to a 15-person team.

“The firm is set up on a fully remote concept, so the space above Perch is almost like Startup Sioux Falls,” he said.

“Our employees reserve a desk and conference space if they want it for the day, but otherwise everybody works from home. So this is a place to meet with clients or if they’re working on a big project and want additional screens and access to a big copy machine.”

While he and attorney Stefan Szwarc generally work in the office, there are other employees as far away as Pierre and Sioux City.

“This concept allows us to hire people where they may be if they’re the right person,” Halbach said. “It’s been really well received by our clients, which is why we’re growing so quickly.”

Downstairs, the interior restaurant space is starting to wrap up construction.

Here’s a look at how it has changed even in the past few days:

Perch is a partnership of Halbach, local restaurateurs Jordan Taylor and Barry Putzke — the owners of Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen, Pizza Cheeks and En Place Catering — and grocery veteran Patrick Sayler.

The space that originally was Eftting & Co. Grocer will seat only about two dozen people inside, so “as we design this, every square inch is so important,” Halbach said.

Cabinets, fixtures and counters are in, painting is wrapping up, and kitchen equipment is being installed soon.

Perch has been able to practice and hone its breakfast menu through a series of pop-up brunch events in recent weeks, which “has been really good and given our chef an opportunity to get used to the menu,” Halbach said. “I think it’ll really speed up the transition when we’re in our space.”

There will be lunch options added as well, including salads, soup and sandwiches.

“I would say lighter fare, and then the breakfast menu will run all day,” Halbach said.

“We’ll have a full espresso menu, and we haven’t rolled out any offerings yet other than our Perch blend.”

The house blend, produced by Cottonwood Coffee in Brookings, also will be sold wholesale, including to Sioux Falls Food Co+op.

While construction is wrapping up inside, concrete is being poured, and the patio area is being framed up and landscaped. The outdoor space will add seating for another 50 people.

A future roof patio will bring seating for 40 more guests, though it likely won’t open until next year.

Hours will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily to start, but “we have been kind of kicking around the idea of some happy hours … but it would be a limited offering and not very late,” Halbach said.

Opening likely won’t be too much longer, but “we’re aren’t going to give a date until we’re sure,” Halbach said.