Cedar Creek Restaurant is back in business under new ownership.

Mark and Kristina McIntyre celebrated the soft reopening of the American Northwest cuisine establishment – located on North Fifth Avenue – on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

The grand opening is Friday, Sept. 24.

The McIntyres moved from Utah after buying the business. Mark, a Marine with a law enforcement background, decided to pursue his passion for food and fine dining by switching careers. Since his business model for fine dining didn’t fit in the area where the couple was living, they started looking elsewhere.

"We started thinking outside the box," Mark said.

"Why not look for a business where we want to be someday instead of where we are?"

Sequim fit the bill. When they visited and saw the historical building with exquisite gardens, the decision was easy.

Since purchasing the restaurant earlier this year, the couple has repainted the inside, refinished the floors and rebuilt the kitchen.

The newly organized menu features locally harvested Dungeness and king crab, lamb, veal, prime rib, fruits and vegetables.

"It’s every bit as good (as before) but more reasonably priced," Mark said.

Chef Jeff Hollen moved from Florida to take the job.

"I like the area," said Hollen, who has more than 25 years experience as a certified executive chef.

"I was tired of Florida and ready for a change."

Sequim, according to Mark and Kristina, needs a fine dining restaurant.

"There are other good restaurants in Sequim but there’s room for another," Kristina said.

"We don’t care what has happened here before," Mark said, in reference to the restaurant’s several previous owners and rumored "curse" that prevents it from staying open for more than a few years at a time.

"We didn’t come here to fail," he said confidently.

This isn’t Mark’s first time living in Sequim. While growing up, he traveled the U.S. extensively with his father, who was a Secret Service agent and accepted transfers every two years. His father was in the car behind President John Kennedy when he was assassinated.

Sequim made such an impression on Mark when he had lived here that he brought Kristina to visit. They are impressed with the kind welcome they’ve received.

"We feel at home," Kristina said with a soft smile.

Reopen for business

Cedar Creek Restaurant, 665 N. Fifth Ave., is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. until the last guest is fed. For more information or to make reservations, call 683-4508.