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Health Department is final hurdle for Ivar’s Seafood Bar

The window coverings have been removed and lighted neon signs announce that Ivar’s Seafood Bar will open soon at Uptown Gig Harbor, pending approval by Pierce County health officials.

The city of Gig Harbor granted a certificate of occupancy to the fast-food restaurant. The certificate indicates the building space complies with city building and zoning codes, fire safety and other city standards, Gig Harbor community development director Eric Baker said.

But operations cannot begin until the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department gives its approval, said Bob Donegan, Ivar’s president.

The health department is working through a plan review looking at the floor plan and equipment, said Kenny Via, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department spokesman. Once that’s complete, the department will do a walk-through inspection prior to the restaurant opening, Via said.

“We’re day to day,” Donegan said. “We’re ready to go as soon as the health department says we can.”

Signs at the soon-to-open Ivar’s Seafood Bar at 4901 Point Fosdick Drive in January. Photo by Vince Dice

Ivar’s is a long time coming

Ivar’s wanted to move into Gig Harbor for nearly a decade and looked into opening at Uptown near the Safeway grocery store, but the numbers didn’t pan out, said Donegan.  The shopping center approached Ivar’s after Lunchbox Laboratory closed and the parties reached a deal, Donegan said.

The chain originally targeted a February opening date for the restaurant at 4901 Point Fosdick Dr.

In the meantime, Ivar’s is training 28 employees at its Lakewood restaurant and operations are ready to roll, he said. The Gig Harbor location has indoor seating for about 80 people, with another 40 or so seats on the patio during the good-weather months.

Gig Harbor fits the economic profile of a Ivar’s customer, he said.

“Generally we want about a community with about 30,000 people working within a mile of the restaurant for lunch or 3 miles for dinner,” Donegan said. “We want to be on their way home or near places where people do their weekly chores. Point Fosdick meets that criteria. ”

The Washington-founded chain, founded in 1938, operates 18 seafood bars and three full-service restaurants across the state. The closest Ivar’s Seafood Bar is on South Mildred Street in Tacoma.