McAlister’s Deli To Open In GF

Grand Forks Herald:

McAlister’s Deli, a casual restaurant chain based in Ridgeland, Miss., plans to add a location in Grand Forks in 2010.

“The Upper Midwest, from Minnesota to Grand Forks to Bismarck and South Dakota, will be a very strong growth area for McAlister’s,” said Bill McClintock, senior vice president of development, in a phone interview. “We’re excited to be coming there.”

McClintock said he did some franchising with Buffalo Wild Wings when it converted the former Ponderosa restaurant in Grand Forks in 2002. He said plans are to move into a vacated area, preferably 3,000 to 3,500 square feet with seating for 100, near Columbia Mall. McAlister’s hopes to reduce build out costs by 10 percent.