VALDOSTA — With an impressive expansion taking place on the Norman Drive side of Colonial Mall Valdosta, all eyes are focused on construction equipment, clever signs and large buildings beginning to loom over the current one-story shopping center.

Yet, as we watch in amazement how quickly new stores are taking form, many have failed to notice another renovation project on the opposite mall corner.

Next to JC Penney, two men have transformed the old Piccadilly restaurant into a new family-oriented, international buffet named Fuji Gourmet. It has a new look and offers local shoppers a new taste.

Fuji Gourmet joined Colonial Mall Valdosta because Simon Zhao, owner of Fuji, had seen such success with his first restaurant at the Colonial Mall in Brunswick. He did a great deal of market research and said he found the Asian food places here were not up to his par. He wanted to provide Valdosta with a better experience and therefore opened his casual dining establishment after completely remodeling. New flooring was installed, and walls were repaired.

Zhao and general manager George Feng acquired the help of a master carpenter and artist, as well as many others, to create a beautiful restaurant with what Zhao and Feng consider “the best party room in town.”

With almost 10,000 square feet, Fuji Gourmet is open and spacious. As many as 280 people can receive service at one time.

The party room that Feng described so positively can seat 110. It features a beautiful chandelier as well as a wall mural of a river scene.

In the main dining room, intricate, hand-carved wood creates privacy between booths and accents the restaurant’s atmosphere. There is a fountain near the entrance to create a soothing mood as guests enter and wait to be seated. At each table, placemats display illustrations and explanations of the Chinese zodiac, creating the perfect conversation starter.

Guests choose from more than 230 items on the buffet. Dine-in prices are $5.99 for lunch buffet, $8.99 for Dinner or all day Sunday buffets, $10.99 for dinner buffet with snow crab legs and children eat for a reduced price.

Take-out prices are $2.99 per pound for lunch, $3.25 per pound for dinner and $5.99 per pound with seafood.

Lunch buffet is from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., and dinner is from 4-10 p.m.

The buffet features a multitude of options including seafood, pizza, steak, fruit and veggies, Asian dishes, sushi, dessert and much more. The number of choices is one of the reasons Zhao and Feng believe their restaurant is unique.

They also believe that low prices and great food will bring success at this new location.

Their main goal is simple, they want to provide good food and good service to the people of Valdosta in hopes of becoming the best restaurant in the area.

So far, Zhao and Feng have received positive comments and have served a lot of people. They said that business is good; they hope it will only get better. When asked what they believed people should know, Feng responded, “We have many choices and our international buffet is at a lower price than most places.”

Fuji Gourmet hosted a ribbon-cutting on Sunday afternoon.

Many people, including Mayor John Fretti, attended. The new restaurant may not be a part of the bigger construction at the front of the mall, but its owners believe their opening was big news as well.

For information about Fuji Gourmet or to place an order, contact George Feng at 242-6882.