Business Booming At “Nuisance” Williston Eatery

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — Business is booming at a downtown Williston hot spot for Hawaiian-style food that the city last year had dubbed a public nuisance.

The Hula Grill on Main Street faced complaints last fall about creating a constant smell of barbecue in the area. The city in October shut down the business until it could find a better way to ventilate the kitchen.

The business took the matter to court and later negotiated a six-month extension to do the work. The Williston Herald reports the project was finished by the May 29 deadline.

Kitchen exhaust is now funneled up to the building's roof, and restaurant owner Jerry Wong says "now all of Williston can smell us." He says business has picked up considerably.

The dispute cost the Hula Grill $13,000 in ventilation work and $14,000 in attorney fees.