New Businesses Coming to Former Yoken's Site

Developers with 4 Amigos LLC first approached the Portsmouth Planning Board with their proposal to redevelop the now vacant former Yoken's property way back in October 2011 and now some real construction is taking place.

On Monday morning, a construction company contracted by the developers began excavating the ground of the five-acre site with some heavy-duty equipment after the entire lot had been fenced off.

Scott Mitchell, one of the managing members of the 4 Amigos LLC group, said the $10 million development project will create a new Rite-Aid pharmacy, a Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank and a Five Guys Burger and Fries restaurant. He said the proposal received final approval from the Portsmouth Planning Board in 2012. Now Mitchell said the project can move forward.

The former Yoken's restaurant and conference center closed in 2004 and the site has been vacant for more than eight years.

Mitchell said they also plan to save the former Yoken's conference center "Thar She Blows" sign that is still wrapped in white plastic. He said they will preserve it as is with one exception. Instead of saying "Yoken's Good Things to Eat" it will say "Yoken's Plaza."

Mitchell said the developers originally thought they would donate the sign to the Portsmouth Historical Society, but after they heard from so many city residents who wanted to see the sign saved, they decided to go that route instead.

He said they are planning to meet with a sign company to get some cost estimates and then they will need to get a variance from the city to use it.

“We just think it’s such an integral part of Portsmouth that we just think we should do everything we can in our power to save that sign,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said they also have an additional three acres of land in back of the new businesses they will build that will be developed down the road.

“Weather permitting, we’re hoping to open the stores sometime between May and June," Mitchell said.