NEWINGTON — The closed-down Shogun Japanese Steakhouse along the Spaulding Turnpike may be turned into a new restaurant and bar with a dog park. The plan was brought to the town by the founder and president of New Hampshire-based Rustic Crust pizza company.
Rye resident Brad Sterl, the head of Rustic Crust and former chief executive officer and co-owner of Foodee’s Inc., presented his idea to the Newington Planning Board Monday night. The building was constructed in 1975 and was formerly Asia Restaurant prior to Shogun.
About half the space in the 16,500-square-foot footprint building, inactive for several years since Shogun closed in 2017, would be transformed into a new restaurant and bar selling pizzas, burgers and more hand-held items. The remaining space would be turned into a dog park with on-leash and off-leash areas, in addition to room for training and limited dog daycare services.
“The intent is that you'd be able to come in with your dog and visit the location, get a drink from the bar if you choose to,” Sterl said Monday. “Then in the off-leash area, you can get takeout from the restaurant. Obviously the dogs cannot go into the actual restaurant portion.”
The entrepreneur has a vision beyond the possibility of opening such a concept in Newington.
“Our intent is to go (create) multiple of these and then eventually franchise it,” Sterl said.
Former Shogun Japanese Steakhouse property on market for $3.9 million
Sterl’s proposal comes as the owner of the large 347 Shattuck Way property — Wong, Mo Y Living Revocable Trust — has placed the building and lot on the market for $3.9 million. During Monday's meeting Sterl didn't detail plans to acquire or lease the property.
Town property records note that Newington last assessed the Shattuck Way building at just over $1.5 million.
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Kane Company founder and realtor broker Jean Kane listed the 6.6-acre property. She did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
“The property has municipal utilities. It has a concrete basement under 3/4 of the building, providing ample storage room. With a 53,000 square foot, asphalt parking lot and access to Route 16, this property is easily accessible for commuters and customers,” a listing for the property says.
Dog business details explained for Newington site
Sterl said his daughter is a dog trainer in the White Mountains region and first pitched the idea to open a joint dog park and eatery to him several years ago. Ever since, he has traveled to numerous similar businesses to better formulate his business’ design, which involves investors.
Each dog brought to the proposed facility would have to come with proof of vaccinations records and take a temperament test at the potential business to see how it would mingle with other dogs, according to the proposal. The company would also require each dog to be spayed or neutered once it’s turned a year old.
The majority of the space would be for off-leash dogs, with the on-leash portion of the interior nearby. Within the off-leash area would be spaces separating smaller and more timid dogs from larger ones. An outdoor area for the dogs would be fenced in.
“We will have what we call ‘bark rangers,’ which are people that are highly-trained in dog behaviors (and) how to help manage (that). Should an event arise, they’re there to de-escalate and manage that situation with the dogs,” he said.
A retail area with dog treats, referred to by Sterl as a “barkery,” and a coffee station selling La Mulita products is also planned for the interior.
Mark Gianniny, managing principal of McHenry Architecture in Portsmouth, discussed the partial change of use plan at Monday’s meeting.
“Site work will be limited to mostly just converting some impervious surface that exists as patio space as well as use of it for exterior dog play areas,” he said. “Since the Shogun's closing, the owner, Mr. Wong, has maintained the property while listing the property also (for sale) as a restaurant.”
Board members questioned how noise and odor would be controlled at the facility, with Sterl noting that anticipated staffers and sanitation processes would prevent any issues.
If the business was not allowed to have dogs outside past 5 p.m. due to noise, Sterl would withdraw his application.
“The outside (portion) is a significant piece of the model, especially in the summertime. There will be some outside dog activities,” he said.
“One of the advantages is that the owner has taken good care of the property since it’s been empty, which you don’t really see very often in Chinese restaurants or restaurants that have had a high grease factor, like a seafood restaurant,” Sterl added.
Monday’s discussion of the plan was purely informational. No action was taken by Planning Board members. The board may take up the item again as soon as early April.
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