The Brickhouse, a steak and seafood restaurant, plans to move into the Firehall building on Northwest Minnesota Avenue in downtown Bend this spring.
Jeff Porad, owner of both the Bend and Redmond Brickhouse locations, signed the lease Thursday for the Firehall, last occupied by Bourbon Street Sea & Soul Food.
“It’s a done deal," said Porad, one of four tenants who competed for the nearly 5,000-square-foot space. “I think it’s a perfect fit for us, and I was confident all along that we were gong to get it."
He said he’s been eyeing the building, formerly Bend’s first fire station, for years, but has been working on the lease with Compass Commercial Real Estate Services for a few months.
“We need a little more elbow room and a bigger bar," he said, referring to the current Bend Brickhouse location on Southwest Industrial Way. “We’ll be able to offer some more casual dining options and a big happy-hour menu."
He said he expects to open the new location in April and will close the current space right before the move.
