Sawtooth Grill, located on the main floor of River Park Square downtown, says it's looking for a space to relocate. Meanwhile, a Seattle-area sushi restaurant says it plans to take Sawtooth's space.

"Our lease was up, and we couldn't negotiate a rent amount," says Sawtooth Grill manager Debbie Webb. Webb says locations on the South Hill, North Side, and in Spokane Valley are under consideration as a new site for the restaurant.

Sawtooth Grill is known for its appetizers, specialty burgers, bison stew, and relaxed, outdoorsy decor.

Paul Choi, who owns Sushi Maru, in Bellevue, and Blue Island Sushi & Roll, in nearby Federal Way, plans to open a Sushi Maru outlet at River Park Square, says Sushi Maru manager Soo Sim.

The restaurant plans to open around Thanksgiving, after the space has been remodeled to give it a modern Asian atmosphere that will include a "sushi conveyer belt," Sim says. The restaurant also will include a full bar and a sake lounge, she says. It is expected to seat about 150 patrons and to employ 30 to 40 people.

Sushi Maru will offer the same sushi, sushi rolls, and cooked appetizers, entrees, and desserts at the new Spokane outlet as it does in Bellevue.