April 17, 2014 5:22 pm • By Jessica Holdman – Bismarck Tribune
© Bismarck Tribune – MIke McCleary. New owner Dale Zimmerman will change the name of the longstanding north Bismarck restaurant from East 40 Food and Drink to 40 Steak + Seafood.
The owners of the Peacock Alley hope to use their healing powers to resuscitate another long-standing Bismarck institution, breathing life back into the former East 40 restaurant.
Dale and Melodie Zimmerman purchased East 40 Food & Drink at 1401 E. Interchange Ave. They are renovating the restaurant, which opened in north Bismarck in 1975 under the ownership of the Conlin family. The restaurant went through two other names and owners before it was returned to the Conlins.
Now, under the Zimmermans, it will be known as 40 Steak + Seafood.
“Our focus is on fresh seafood and great beef,” Dale Zimmerman said. “At 40, we’ll have fresh seafood flown in daily and great steaks. We will have some ethnic fusion foods from Mexico and Asia as well.”
Zimmerman said there are not a lot of choices for fresh seafood in the area and he hopes that will be a draw. Peacock Alley will continue to focus on beef dishes but will have fresh salmon and tuna. 40 will have 10 different kinds of fresh seafood every day.
“We’re not copying what we’ve done downtown at 40,” he said. “Rather, we’re bringing our philosophy to another iconic restaurant in Bismarck.”
The new restaurant also is similar to Peacock Alley in that it has history, Zimmerman said. It’s an integral part of the community with sentiment attached to it.
“If you save something like that it’s a good thing for the community,” Zimmerman said. “Diners in this area have fond memories of East 40, with its quiet, intimate dining rooms, and I don’t want to take that away. My approach is to build on what’s already there.”
The original bricks, which came from the old Grand Pacific Hotel downtown, will remain, along with the fireplaces and woodwork. What is new is the flooring and brighter lighting and paints.
Dining rooms
The restaurant’s five dining rooms each have new themes related to North Dakota’s history, Zimmerman said. A mural of 18 historic sites around Bismarck greets customers as they walk down the hallway.
Guests may then choose to dine in the Women of the Prairie room surrounded by photos of homesteaders making sausage or doing the laundry.
The Three Forks Room is a nod to North Dakota’s oil history going back to the 1950s in Tioga, not just the recent development.
“I’m a huge beef guy,” Zimmerman said, which is why he made one of the dining rooms the Cattlemen’s Room.
The Governors Room features a marble floor and spotlighted pictures of past governors, like Gov. John Davis standing with Lawrence Welk and another of Gov. William Langer.
Finally, the Family Room has photos of family events held around Bismarck, like a basketball game played in the Memorial Building or children swimming in the old Elks pool.
Experience
East 40 was known for its fine dining experience, but 40 will have a price range closer to that of Peacock Alley, with seafood choices less than $30.
“Anything over $30 I consider expensive,” Zimmerman said.
The “signature steak” is the Tomahawk, a large bone-in ribeye which looks a lot like its namesake. The menu will also feature sushi and fresh oysters. Much of the cooking will be done with sake and wines.
Zimmerman said he will build a beer cooler addition with 32 tap beers and wine on tap. The outside patio will be extended to the sidewalk and will include firepits for guests to sit around. The renovation investment will be about $500,000 in addition to the cost of the property.
Zimmerman said the restaurant will continue to be open throughout the transition. He hopes to have all renovations finished by the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference at the end of May.
There are 700 hotel rooms in close proximity to the restaurant and it is on the north side of town where much new construction is happening. It also has the distinction of being a local restaurant rather than a national franchise.
The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will have an official re-launch in May.
“I want to make 40 one of the best places to eat in Bismarck again,” Zimmerman said.
Reach Jessica Holdman at 701-250-8261 or jessica.holdman@bismarcktribune.com.
