The owners of the former Parker House Restaurant building are continuing to honor reservations for banquets, despite the fact the restaurant has been closed since December.

Meanwhile, various options regarding what to do with the building at 56 S. First St., Washougal, are being considered prior to the opening of the Black Pearl on the Columbia Restaurant.

The options include remodeling or demolishing the approximately 16,000-square-foot building.

"We are keeping all options open," said Russell Brent, one of the members of Black Pearl on the Columbia LLC.

A site plan review application has been filed with the city of Washougal, to demolish and remove the existing structure and construct a new restaurant building in a slightly different location on the same 1.59 acres of land. The new building would be located toward the southwest corner of the site near the location of the existing two-story restaurant.

The new restaurant's main level is expected to include banquet rooms, a bar/lounge and casual dining with patio seating. The upper level will include a kitchen, fine dining and deck seating.

Construction is expected to occur between this summer and winter.

"I've been down there on and off doing some general clean up work, and people are telling me how excited they are," Brent said. "I've been meeting local vendors. They are telling me how excited they are that Camas and Washougal will have a nice restaurant on the waterfront they can be proud of."

Read the rest of the story in the March 2 issue of the Post-Record