Potential new restaurant coming to former Sagebrush Steakhouse
For two and a half years, the former Sagebrush Steakhouse on East Dixon Boulevard has been deserted, the signature brown building with red awning a forlorn sight since its abrupt closing in January of 2020.
Sandwiched between Fatz Cafe and a strip mall, the restaurant recently has been the source of speculation since permits appeared taped to the front windows.
Although new permits were issued in February, no work has yet been completed. But that will soon change, according to Kelly Wollinger.
The permit was issued to Dodge City Steakhouse by the city of Shelby earlier this year.
Wollinger, with Hodge Restaurant Group, said the space will soon the home of Coach's Neighborhood Grill. She said Dodge City is listed on the permit because it has the same parent company.
She said they plan to open the restaurant - the 15th Coach's Neighborhood Grill - in September.
"We will be there making renovations to the inside and outside of the building," Wollinger said in an email to The Star. "We typically have 60 l-90 team members and leadership in each of our Coach’s restaurants. We will post a banner or a sign when we are ready to hire at our Shelby location."
She said most Coach's locations are based in small towns across North Carolina.
"We chose Shelby because we felt like there was a need for a local ‘neighborhood’ place to hangout after local football games, to celebrate birthdays and the last day of school, to grab catering for a party, and we want to be that place in Shelby," Wollinger said. "We are sports themed, so Coach’s will be a fun place to watch all of your favorite games."
Currently, there are 13 of the restaurants across North Carolina and Virginia with another opening soon in Cheraw, South Carolina and then the upcoming Shelby location.
Work is tentatively planned to begin in mid August.
Coach's Neighborhood Grill is part of the Hodge Restaurant Group, which also consists of Dodge City Steakhouse, Shortstops Burgers and Shakes and Fresh Cuts Butcher & Seafood Market.
The restaurant serves steaks, burgers and sandwiches in addition to a variety of appetizers and sides.
Sagebrush had its share of trials and was forced to close in 2013 after a fire caused $50,000 worth of damage. It wasn’t until 2017 before the building underwent construction and subsequently reopened in 2018. The restaurant closed for a final time in January 2020.
Printed off signs in the windows told would-be patrons of the closure.
The nearly 6,000 sq. ft. building was constructed in 2000 and as of 2021, the property and the building had a combined tax value of $1.29 million.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Former Sagebrush could soon house new restaurant
