Owner pitches ambitious changes to Istanbul Grill building

FAIRFIELD – A family who recently moved to Fairfield has ambitious plans for the building housing Istanbul Grill.

Naomi Sunshine addressed the Fairfield City Council Monday evening, Nov. 24, about her plans to develop the building at 50 S. Second St. She and her family moved here from Atlanta, and currently reside in the building’s upper floor while they’re remodeling both that floor and the basement. Their plan is to open a game room and speakeasy in the basement.

“It will be like the game of ‘Clue’ come to life,” Sunshine said. “Then at night, it will become a speakeasy. It’s perfect because the building was built in 1920 during the time of Prohibition. We want this to build community and bring something hip.”

Once Sunshine and her family have finished renovating the upper floor, they will move out and turn that space into transitional housing for women and children survivors of abuse and trauma.

Sunshine purchased the building and is renting space to Istanbul Grill. The restaurant’s owners, David Foraker and Saniye Izol, signed a lease with Sunshine through the end of December 2026. Foraker and Izol have operated Istanbul Grill since 2007. In 2027, Sunshine will open her own restaurant in that space.

“We want to call it ‘Breaking Bread – A Place for Everybody,’” Sunshine told The Union. “It’s going to be fast casual upscale food, bowls and salads. That could be high-protein, gluten-free, any way people eat.”

Sunshine said the women who live upstairs will also have the opportunity to work in the businesses below.

Renovating this building is not Sunshine’s only project, either. She and her husband are looking to purchase land in the countryside, possibly near Lockridge, where they want to start a tiny home village. This additional land will allow them to serve even more groups, such as veterans and young people aging out of foster care. They, in addition to the women living on the top floor of the building, will have the chance to build their own tiny home in the village.

Sunshine said she met Mayor Connie Boyer at a career fair at the high school a few weeks ago, and Boyer encouraged her to share her vision with the full city council. Sunshine said she welcomes any volunteer help from those who’d like to be a part of this project. She can be reached at naomi@sharingsunshineproperties.com or via phone at 423-315-3145.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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