The former Fong’s Pizza site on Fourth Street has been converted into a neighborhood hangout where customers can grab various traditional comfort food and quick counter service meals to eat in or to go.

The new business will be called the Empire, a nod to a bar of the same name that opened in the building in 1905. The Empire is scheduled to open Thursday, Oct. 2.

The Empire is a partnership of Don Short, owner of West End Salvage, Ryan Ellsworth of Invision Architecture and Dennis Epps of hospitality group Full Court Press, which owns Fong’s, Buzzard Billy’s, the Chicken, El Bait Shop, Hessen Haus, High Life Lounge, Iowa Taproom, Ken’s, Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers, the Royal Mile, Truman’s Pizza Tavern and University Library Cafe.

Fong’s Pizza closed at the location and moved to the former Peace Tree Brewing site at 317 E. Court Ave., in the East Village last spring, and efforts have been underway since then to reimagine the Fourth Street space.

“We wanted to recreate the Empire to have the look and feel of a bar from 1905 with updates and improvements throughout the years,” Short said in a news release.

Ellsworth said opening the Empire, “is a great way to bring the rich history of the Elliott Building and Fourth Street back to life.”

According to the release, the Empire will focus on quick counter service meals and beverages. All menu items will be priced between $5 and $11. The menu will include sandwiches, entrees and daily specials.

It will feature Bierocks, a soft bread roll stuffed with ground beef, cabbage and onions, a popular item commonly known as a Runza. It will also serve Reubens, chicken salad sandwiches, hot beef sandwiches, chicken and noodles, among other traditional items.

The Empire will also offer cocktails and beer during happy hour, as well as breakfast items, baked goods, coffee drinks, house-made iced coffee on tap and infused energy drinks.

Brentt York, general manager of the Empire, said Denise Diaz of Ritual Cafe will be joining the team, bringing her expertise to the business. She began her career in the coffee business at Java Joes on Fourth Street and later owned and operated Ritual Cafe until it closed in August.

The building was converted into the Elliott Hotel in 1903 by the owners of the State Insurance Co. The original Empire Bar opened in April 1905, but it closed just a year later. Since then, the space has housed a buffet, a barbecue restaurant and King Ying Low’s Chinese restaurant until it closed in 2008 and Fong’s opened.

Epps, owner of the Empire, is a long-time resident of downtown, and he said in the release that he’s excited about the opportunities the business will offer.

“I’m so happy we will be the neighborhood coffee shop, lunch and dinner spot, and a great place to gather with friends and neighbors,” he said.