T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON LING CURTIS, center, co-owner of Sakura Family Restaurant in Bellaire, uses a giant pair of scissors to cut the ribbon in front of the eatery on Wednesday.

BELLAIRE — Sakura Family Restaurant celebrated its grand opening Wednesday, ready to bring Asian- and American-style cuisine to Bellaire.

The restaurant opened recently in the former Rigas restaurant building at 3290 Belmont St., Bellaire. It is owned and operated by Powhatan Point residents Ling Curtis and her sister May Jiang. Curtis and Jiang celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Rigas restaurant closed in 2017 after 54 years in business. The property was on the market for about two years before Curtis and Jiang purchased it last year.

Curtis said business has been good at the location, and her customers have given Sakura a 4.9 out of a 5-star rating online.

“We’re trying to make it to 5,” she said following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “A lot of people come (to Bellaire) just for our food.”

She said in addition to Bellaire residents, people from other surrounding communities come to Sakura as well. Curtis said she hopes the village’s population increases in the future, which would help support the eatery.

Wendy Anderson, St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce director, said Bellaire has a lot to offer and new businesses continue to open there. Anderson said the chamber wants to see more small businesses open there, and she wants to promote those already there. She is encouraging existing village businesses to consider joining the chamber, since the Bellaire chamber is no longer in operation. She said small businesses are necessary to support the local economy. And if a possible ethane cracker plant is built at Dilles Bottom, Bellaire, like many other communities, will need to be ready.

Bellaire Councilman Gay Lucci said he has eaten at the restaurant several times and is impressed with the quality of the food.

“I love it. I’m glad they’re here and grateful they’re here,” Lucci said. “We needed it and I’m sure people appreciate it.”

The Sakura menu includes Asian dishes such as Hibachi-style dinners and American-style food such as burgers, fries and milkshakes. Asian-style dishes include spicy pork, General Tso’s chicken, and more, as well as a special dish — bulgogi, which consists of thin slices of beef flavored in a sweet Korean-style barbecue, as well as both Asian and American-style appetizers and salad options.

Sakura is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.