Alongside many other local favorites such as Crave, Cooper, and Figlio, the West End will soon be lined with many more restaurants.

The St. Louis Park Planning Commission approved of the Shops at West End’s plan to have the ability to use an additional 8,500 square feet of the mall for future restaurant space Aug. 19, according to Senior Planner Sean Walther.

Walther said no additional square feet will be built onto the 382,000 square foot mall, but merely fill existing space in currently vacant lots.

“(The West End) previously had 82,000 approved for restaurant space and now they are able to add more restaurants to this area,” he said.

Recently, West End approved a new restaurant named Yard House for lease and is currently awaiting approval for a building permit. It has an American fusion menu and will be the first Yard House in Minnesota. Yard House is scheduled to open spring 2014.

According to Walther, the hope of reserving room for these restaurants is to increase mall productivity.

Junior Annie Birnberg said she thinks the additional restaurants will spark interest among teenagers.

“It’s fun to go out to eat, and it’s local and easy to get to,” she said. “You could hang out with your friends, shop and eat or go see a movie and eat. There are a variety of things to do.”

However, sophomore Genevieve Bone said she thinks the addition will not be applicable for many students.

“Most students don’t just go to fancy sit down restaurants,” she said. “They tend to go to easy, more fast food ones. It doesn’t really apply to us.”

Additionally, senior Brandon Dale said he thinks West End should fill the new space they are now able to use to put more restaurants that students would enjoy.

“Right now the West End is kind of expensive and hopefully it’ll have something more casual for students and other people,” he said. “I don’t want to shell out $50 for lunch.”

Walther said the West End is now seeking private lease opportunities to start expanding its variety of restaurants. He is unsure when building will commence, but said Yard House submitted a building permit. He said, once approved, building can start shortly after.