After more than two years of planning, construction is nearly complete on three new buildings that will offer three new dining options in central Richland while sprucing up a once dreary corner in central Richland.

[blockquote quote="We are going to focus on great ingredients and great quality." source="Anthony Belsito, general manager of Dupus Boomer's in Richland" align="right" max_width="300px"]

Tri-Cities’ developer Greg Markel bought the former parking lot and aging strip center off Swift Boulevard between George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue in Richland in 2013.

His vision for the corner is taking shape and the buildings are nearing completion. Markel said he believes the new Jimmy John’s sandwich shop will open before the end of the year at 530 Swift Blvd. The sign is already on the building, which is receiving finishing touches.

That building, which is about 3,500 square feet, will also house a Taco Time owned by Markel.

“We hope to open that after the first of the year,” he said.

A parking lot separates that building from a second similar building that is also under construction at 1010 Jadwin Ave. Markel said that property will house a Markel Real Estate office and an attorney’s office. He also has about 900 sq. feet of space available to lease in the building, he added.

“Everything should be nearly done by mid-December,” Markel said.

But the most exciting part of the development is the two-story, 7,500-sq.-ft. Dupus Boomers full-service restaurant and lounge at 502 Swift Blvd., at the corner of Swift Boulevard and George Washington Way.

Markel said the shell of the building will be complete by mid-December.

“They are putting in the elevator as we speak — the only thing we are waiting on are the sliding glass doors,” he said.

Those sliding glass doors will open to the upper deck area, which will be enclosed.

The main floor of Dupus Boomers will house the lounge and the main dining room will be upstairs.

Markel said he hopes to open in mid-February, but only if everything is in place and ready.

“I’m not going to rush it,” he said.

The lounge, which will also be known as “The Lab,” will be decorated with framed prints of Dupus Boomer, a cartoon character created in the mid-1940s. Dupus Boomer embodied the bumbling government-issue Hanford worker and the cartoon illustrated the frustrations of living and working at the Hanford site. The cartoon became an icon of the early Hanford era and Markel owns the copyright and trademark for it.

Anthony Belsito of Richland will be the general manager of the new Dupus Boomer’s restaurant and lounge.

Belsito said the bar will have 44 beers on tap, with a good selected of domestic, craft and local beers, as well as wines, specialty mixed drinks and martinis. And there will be plenty of television, so patrons can enjoy their favorite sports.

The family-friendly restaurant will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, including seafood, steaks, pastas, sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, homemade soups and a salad bar with 40 items.

“We are going to focus on great ingredients and great quality,” Belsito said.

The burgers will be made of ground buffalo, which is leaner and healthier than traditional ground beef.

And Markel is especially excited about the crab and cheese sandwich, which is one of his favorite recipes.

“We are really focused on serving great food,” Markel said.