North Dakota still may not have a confirmed Buc-ee’s location on the way, but the state’s more immediate restaurant news has involved places disappearing rather than arriving.
Three recent closures stand out because each occupied a different part of North Dakota’s dining culture: a polished mall restaurant, a modern downtown supper club and a family restaurant that served generations of customers.
CRAVE at West Acres Mall in Fargo
CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar permanently closed at West Acres Mall following its final service July 26.
The announcement caught employees and customers by surprise. One server said Sunday night felt like an ordinary shift, with staff completing the usual closing work before learning the restaurant would not reopen.
CRAVE arrived at West Acres in 2019 and gave the mall a full-service restaurant serving sushi, steak, burgers, salads, cocktails and contemporary American dishes.
It became a convenient choice for dates, business meals and celebrations because it could satisfy diners wanting very different foods at the same table.
West Acres confirmed the closure and said it was evaluating new possibilities for the space. CRAVE thanked customers for the celebrations, memories and support they had shared with the restaurant.
Nova Eatery & Supper Club in Fargo
Nova Eatery & Supper Club served its final meals June 30 at 402 Broadway North in downtown Fargo.
The owners said they had explored multiple ways to keep the restaurant operating but ultimately needed to close for the financial health of their families and other businesses.
Nova was part of a local restaurant group that also operates Luna, Sol Ave. Kitchen, Mangata Wine & Raw Bar and Luna Market. Gift cards were directed to those remaining businesses.
The restaurant attempted to reinterpret the traditional Midwestern supper club with a more contemporary downtown atmosphere. Its closure therefore represented more than the loss of another dining room. Fargo lost a locally developed concept that tried to connect regional nostalgia with modern food and drinks.
Ground Round in Grand Forks
The Ground Round in Grand Forks ended a 40-year run June 26.
Although Ground Round began as a national brand, the Grand Forks restaurant became a distinctly local institution during its four decades in business. Customers remembered birthday parties, family dinners, first jobs and evenings on its patio.
The owners described it as a place where stories were shared and community happened. They gave customers several months of notice, allowing regulars to use gift cards, order favorite meals and say goodbye.
That extended farewell was very different from CRAVE’s sudden shutdown, but the final result was equally painful.
North Dakota has lost three gathering places in only a few weeks. CRAVE offered variety and convenience, Nova represented Fargo’s independent dining scene and Ground Round provided the comfort of a restaurant that seemed as though it had always been there.
The buildings can eventually welcome new tenants. Replacing the memories attached to them will take considerably longer.
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