Work is underway to turn the former Picazo restaurant at 3617 Plaza Way in Kennewick into the latest restaurant to hit the Tri-Cities.

Fujiyama Steakhouse, a Japanese cuisine style restaurant is expected to open at the location in July.

“I’ll be over starting in May and we’ll have some employees come over later to start training,” said Nicholas Serdar, restaurant regional manager. “All the hiring will start in May, mid-May.”

The new restaurant will employee up to 30 workers including hibachi chefs, servers and kitchen help. It will be the third Fujiyama Steakhouse in the Northwest, with locations also in Olympia and Silverdale.

Serdar said Kennewick was chosen for its economic viability and its distance from similar restaurants.

“(The owner) thought the growth in that area and the potential lends itself to be a good location,” said Todd Sternfeld, real estate broker with Markel Properties.

Sternfeld is worked with the restaurant owner to purchase the location.

“We did a lot of driving around and trying to identify a good location for the business and owner thought it would be a good fit,” Sternfeld said.

A contractor out of Ohio who handles most of the company’s construction work is doing the renovations, Serdar said.

The restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

To find out more about the new business visit www.fujiyamawa.com.