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Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2009 > June > 24 > Entry
New Asian restaurant coming to downtown Dayton
Here’s a bit of positive restaurant news from the city of Dayton. It comes in the form of an emailed news release from city of Dayton spokesman Tom Biedenharn and involves a Cincinnati restaurateur opening a new Asian restaurant at 200 S. Jefferson St., at East Fifth Street, across from the Neon Movies, in the spot that was vacated by Chin’s Oriental Cafe in 2003 and later by Elbo’s bar/lounge:
A new Asian-theme restaurant is expected to open near the Dayton Convention Center later this summer, creating approximately 30 new jobs downtown.
The new restaurant, called Sa Bai, will occupy space that once housed Chin’s restaurant in the Dayton Transportation Center complex, which is managed by the Dayton Convention Center.
The casual dining facility will be owned and operated by Chanaka DeLanerolle, who also owns several restaurants in Cincinnati, including Mt. Adams Fish House, Teak Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar, The Celestial Steakhouse, Incline Lounge, Apsara Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar, and Longworth’s.
At its public meeting today, the Dayton City Commission approved a five-year lease agreement with Chanaka DeLanerolle/Sa Bai LLC. The owner plans to invest approximately $250,000 in renovations before opening for business at the end of August. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
The concept for Sa Bai is a casual to upscale dining Asian restaurant, Sushi bar and lounge, providing a unique and rewarding dining experience through an array of authentic cuisine and beverages from across Asia. The lounge would provide additional entertainment with either live music or a D.J. The patio area will be utilized for additional dining space.
“We are excited to have a new restaurant added to the many choices already available downtown,” Mayor Rhine McLin said. “Based upon his track record in Cincinnati, Mr. DeLanerolle obviously has the experience and skills necessary to operate a successful restaurant. Sa Bai will offer yet another dining experience for downtown workers and residents as well as visitors to the Convention Center, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the Neon Movies and the Oregon Arts District.”
According to the City Manager’s report distributed at today’s (June 24) city commission meeting, the restaurant plans on employing 15 to 20 full- and part-time employees, not the 30 mentioned in the news release, but either way, this is encouraging news.
Here are other details of the lease agreement contained as spelled out in the city manager’s report:
— The rental agreement is for a five-year original term with three five-year option terms.
— Sa Bai restaurant will pay no rent for the first five months, from July 1 through Nov. 30, “allowing the tenant to complete renovations and build their business.”
— For the remaining seven months of the first year, through June 30, 2010, the restaurant will pay $2 per square foot, or $6,750 over that period. Over the remaining four years of the original term, rent will continue at $2 per square foot, or $11,572 a year.
— Rent would rise to $2.15 per square foot in years six through 10 and to $2.30 in years 11 through 20 of the option terms, to a total of $13,308 a year.
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment | Categories: Restaurant openings
Comments
By A Blair
June 24, 2009 7:06 PM | Link to this
ill remain faithful to thai9. but glad people are pumping blood back into that building since the loss of elbos.By Katie
June 24, 2009 6:15 PM | Link to this
I’m looking forward to it! His Cincinnati restaurants are great; it will be wonderful to have another terrific food venue in Dayton!By Ann
June 24, 2009 5:45 PM | Link to this
Have fun competing with Thai 9!! Don’t you own enough restaurants already?!! You are going to fail…By Ann
June 24, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
Have fun competing with Thai 9!! Don’t you own enough restaurants already?!! You are going to fail…By happy happy
June 24, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this
Sounds like an exciting new restaurant. I just hope they don’t cannibalize the crowd that would go to Thai 9 given similar menus.By Frank
June 24, 2009 5:15 PM | Link to this
Frankenmuth > DaytonBy oldtimer
June 24, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this
Asian smasian! When is somebody going to open a good German restaurant and beir garten in Dayton?. Now we have to drive all the way to Columbus or to Frankenmuth Michigan..By Emily
June 24, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this
@JoeD: There’s already free street parking after 6 pm (and it’s free on the weekends). You can’t afford to pay for 2 hours at the meter? Besides, you can also just park in the newly redone Oregon District parking lot for free anytime.By Ann
June 24, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this
I’m excited! A new restaurant downtown is a GREAT thing! All those people who are afraid to come downtown are definitely missing out. Your loss not mine!By Emily
June 24, 2009 4:08 PM | Link to this
Awesome! I will definitely check it out!By Joe D
June 24, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this
free parking after 4:00 pm would be a great inducement to go downtown…By amanda
June 24, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this
if the service here ends up being anything like that of Teak, i’ll pass. the worst dining experience i’ve ever had was at Teak and I won’t hold my breath on this place either.By Happy
June 24, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this
I also love Thai 9, CoCo’s, Pacchia, UNO’s, etc. There are plenty of eateries downtown. This should be a great new addition!By YES!!!
June 24, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this
Actually, I work downtown and am 1 of 125 in my office. We will try this! I come downtown for Urban Nights and just to get away from all the crowds at the Greene, etc.By lindaisasourdriedupwashragtoo
June 24, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
Linda: PLEASE STAY HOME…and STFU. The rest of us are going to have a blast downtown. Enjoy your Applebees.By David
June 24, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
“Downtown is dead?” Oh really? So no one goes to the Neon Movies any more, parking in the very lot that this new restaurant will use? Sounds like some people truly have no idea what they’re talking about!By Living large
June 24, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this
The rent will be under a thousand a month. They should make money if they are only open on weekends.By Someone
June 24, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
SOME people still work downtown, ya know! They DO go to lunch downtown, too.By Someone
June 24, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
SOME people still work downtown, ya know!By Linda
June 24, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this
Please tell me who is going to go downtown to eat??????????????????? Downtown is Dead!!!By Background
June 24, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
You’d try it because it’s worth trying once, Barry. Plus the owner has some great restaurants in Cincy, so the background is there.By mike
June 24, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
I’m excited, I love good asian food. Thai 9 is good but overpriced and always crowded, we need more downtown restaurants. I live in bethel township and love coming to dayton!!!!By Barry
June 24, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this
wow only one typo on the bottom part of that last post, pretty good for typing blind. DDN really needs to fix their siteBy Barry
June 24, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this
as long as they don’t serve italian food the judge won’t shut them down…I am wondering why I would drive by a doxzen places to go to dinner downtown thoughBy Sam
June 24, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Won’t get much of the downtown lunch crowd. Too far from the main activity. That is why Chin’s isn’t there anymore.By Skeptic
June 24, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
To None - 18% of the County’s population is about 97,000 people. I’d say that’s plenty to go around! Keep your negative comments to yourself. This is the third new restaurant in Dayton this month. Things are looking good!By rosieflyer
June 24, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
Hey none, your going there to eat, what else do you need to “draw” you there. Someone needs to draw you and all of the othr negative folks a picutre that there is fun to be had in downtown Dayton.By Rachelle
June 24, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this
This is good. Hope this will draw jobs.By noneisasourdriedupwashrag
June 24, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this
That’s fine “none”. The rest of us will have more fun downtown without you there!By All
June 24, 2009 11:13 AM | Link to this
Finally, a downtown restaurant that will be open past 5. And with a great pedigree. The people who aren’t scared of new things will go, the rest can stick with bob Evans.By K
June 24, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this
OMG I’m so excited!! For new Asian food downtown in general, but also because Teak in Cincy is one of my favorites!By Bill
June 24, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Hooray! Maybe we will get rid of that nasty Mr. Lee’sBy Me
June 24, 2009 10:50 AM | Link to this
I will go.By none
June 24, 2009 10:47 AM | Link to this
who will go? there is nothing down here now to draw people unless they are going to a convention or a downtown show. that’s whata maybe 18% of the population?