May 25, 2022

The new owners of a half-vacant restaurant building say they don’t expect it to be empty for long.

The former Cody’s Smokehouse property at 6104 S. Louise Ave sold last week to an investment group connected to Fargo Property Resources Group, which works with a number of restaurants in Fargo.

While they had one in mind for the Cody’s space, that deal didn’t come together – and the group bought the building anyway.

“They liked the real estate, and so they decided to do it. They think it’s a Class A piece of real estate, and I can’t argue. I think it is too,” said Scott Blount of Lloyd Cos., who brokered the sale and now has the building for lease.

The new owners “love the location,” co-owner Tyler Brandt said. “Being across from the new hospital was very attractive to us. And we’ve had a number of Fargo restaurants talking to us about Sioux Falls, so it seems like we’re sister cities.”

The group already has done one restaurant deal nearby – the Plaza Azteca under construction on the northwest side of 69th Street and Louise Avenue. The national Mexican restaurant also has a location in Fargo.

“They have great food and great margaritas, and there’s an hour wait all the time at their restaurant,” Brandt said. “People absolutely love them.”

Construction is far enough along it could open this year, but “they’re not ones that rush to open,” he added. “They get it right first.”

The Cody’s building deal included all the furniture, fixtures and equipment, “so everything is there for that one to open very quickly if a person wanted to,” Brandt said.

“We’d love to have a barbecue company because it’s set up with all the kitchen equipment for that type of use, but I’ve had sushi restaurants, I’ve had a number of people looking at it. We’re going to take whoever makes sense for the location and the city as a whole.”

The building includes an attached Arby’s and shared common space, including restrooms. There’s also a full liquor license and a casino.

“We’ve had interested parties as have they,” Blount said. “We have parties actively looking at it. It’s a fantastic property.”