Santa Lucia says they have not committed to moving into Gateway Mall yet, despite announcements otherwise, the restaurant owner said.

"We talked on Friday, but made no commitments,"said Maria Wilson, owner of the Fargo-based Greek and Italian restuarant.

But management at Gateway Mall said they were in a verbal agreement with Santa Lucia for a 3,000-square-foot space, including a 500-square-foot patio.

"We need to know,"said CherylHansen, on-site property manager of Gateway Mall. "We've been holding two spaces. They've put us in a situation where we've been working around them."

Wilson said she was not aware that two spaces were being held at Gateway Mall.

Santa Lucia is building another restaurant in Fargo, which is set to open in February, Wilson said. And although the owners would like to open one in Bismarck, she says they want to wait until after February.

"We love Bismarck, we've been coming there 15 years doing the festivals,"Wilson said. "But we don't really know where (we'll move to)yet, and haven't really finalized anything."

She said she has no time frame of when a new restaurant would open in Bismarck, but emphasized that they have not set any location in stone yet.

"Idon't even know what this mall looks like,"Wilson said.

Hansen assured that all other stores announced earlier this week were confirmed, signed leases.

Raymond Arjmand, owner of the mall, was on vacation and unable to comment.

(Reach reporter Crystal Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)