Jalili family targets November opening for burger shop

The Jalili family is targeting an early November opening for a new restaurant concept in the downtown property that formerly housed their Bijan’s Sea and Grille.

Co-owner Mike Jalili said the 209 E. Walnut St. restaurant, dubbed Black Sheep, would be more modestly priced than the family’s other ventures.

“You’ve got Flame Steakhouse. You’ve got Touch Restaurant. Hopefully we’re going to open up a new place down in Galloway, another steakhouse. Then you’ve got this burger place with shakes that’s kind of the black sheep of the family,” he said.

Jalili said he would use house-made ground beef for the burgers and would serve menu items for kids and adults during lunch and dinner.

With a full bar, the restaurant would serve craft beers and adult shakes with alcohol, he said.

The Jalilis currently are renovating the property - to give it a casual feel - and adding new kitchen equipment, but he declined to disclose the investment cost.

“I’ve always had an interest in making something more lower end, such as burgers. After thinking for months and months and months, we decided to open a burger and shake place,” he said.

The Jalili family opened Bijan’s in 1996 and bought the building about four years later from Jim Shirato. They’ve maintained ownership.

In 2008, the family sold Bijan’s to managers Barry Kackley and Jeremy Reed, who shuttered the restaurant about two years later. It has since housed tenants The Rebecca Grille and Squeeze Play, which closed last November after only a few months open after a poor reception from the community, Mike Jalili said.

The Jalilis also are working to start construction within the next month on their restaurant tentatively dubbed Chops at Galloway, on Lone Pine Avenue. He said the restaurant has a targeted opening date of May or June.