New Business: 'The Spice' takes over KFC space in Nashua; Tucker's planned for former IHOP
Mar. 14—OWNING A SALON nearby, Hanh Nguyen had her eye on the former KFC location at the Shaw's Plaza on Main Street in Nashua to open her third Asian-themed restaurant, The Spice Restaurant & Bar.
She rented the space at 300 Main St., along with an adjoining pizza shop storefront, to open the full-service restaurant with a hot pot room. For those unfamiliar, hot pot involves each person placing their favorite ingredients into a simmering pot of broth right at the table.
The room can accommodate parties of two or up to eight.
"That room is always busy," Nguyen said. "People love to be by the hot pot and cook themselves."
Nguyen also owns Sun Asian Bistro in Derry and Sun Bar & Grill in Milford, but The Spice has a vibe of its own with influences from Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.
"I have different cuisine in here," she said. "I combine a lot of Asian food and American food together."
Some get confused with the menu having items like fish and chips, while others like the variety, Nguyen said.
Besides hot pot, the short rib pho ($24), banh mi ($15), pork belly tacos ($14) and ramen ($19-$22) are quickly becoming popular dishes.
The KFC seemed like the right spot.
"I can see that this area is growing," Nguyen said. "You can see it is getting busier and busier."
The completely renovated space has a modern touch to it with a U-shaped bar, high-top tables and blue ceiling tiles.
Be sure to check out the restaurant's website, thespicenashua.com, for a "visual tour of The Spice's delectable menu."
Continuing to grow
Homegrown chain Tucker's is taking over another former corporate restaurant space. This time the shuttered IHOP at 2028 Woodbury Ave. in Newington. The IHOP closed this past summer after nearly 25 years.
Tucker's said renovations have officially started on its seventh location in a recent Facebook post. The place is expected to open this fall, according to its website.
The original Tucker's opened in 2014 in Hooksett inside a former Burger King.
Tucker's is known for its meals made from locally sourced products, including bacon, bread, coffee, dairy, eggs, fruit, greens and maple syrup, with more than 55% of the food purchased produced in New Hampshire.
The chain also took over a Pizzeria Uno in Dover and Outback Steakhouse in Bedford.
Another transformation
Speaking of Uno, the former location on the Daniel Webster Highway near the Pheasant Lane Mall has a sign saying a Cali B is coming soon. Cali B is short for California Burrito.
Owner Raul Cabrera says he plans to have the location up and running by August.
"It's a great location, and we are looking to expand," he said in a phone interview.
The space will have a similar concept to its other restaurants in Hudson, Manchester and Nashua, but with a bigger kitchen and multiple stations to keep the burrito building line moving. A full bar is in the works as well as a rooftop seating area.
Cali B is also planning to open in Portsmouth this winter, according to a Facebook post.
Cookie clarity
Don't lose sleep over this one, but it turns out Insomnia Cookies won't be taking over a former chain restaurant location as previously speculated. The purveyor of late-night baked goods won't be moving into the former Subway spot on Elm Street, but rather in a space previously occupied by a hair salon next door.
The cult cookie chain has since installed "now hiring" signs and pictures of some of their offerings.
"Warm cookies delivered" the sign on the door reads. No word on when it will open.
Have an idea for New Business? Email reporter Jonathan Phelps at jphelps@unionleader.com.
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