Owner of Post Falls-based politically themed restaurants to open The Pentagon in Liberty Lake

Raci Erdem, owner of The White House Grill and The Oval Office Bistro & Martini Bar in Post Falls, is opening a new political-themed restaurant in Liberty Lake.

Erdem is renovating a building that formerly housed the CorkHouse Kitchen and Bar at 1440 N. Meadowwood Lane for The Pentagon, which is slated to open mid-October.

“I always loved that building and I know the community very well,” he said. “Liberty Lake is a perfect spot for a neighborhood restaurant.”

In 1996, Erdem, a native of Turkey, opened The White House Grill, which is known for its garlic-infused Mediterranean fare. In 2007, Erdem opened The Oval Office, a bistro offering Northwest-inspired fare and 25 martinis with political-influenced names such as the President, the Woodward and Bernstein and the Fighten Biden.

The Pentagon’s cocktail list and menu will be similar to The Oval Office, with blackened salmon, steak, salads, burgers and seafood. The restaurant also will offer some new “signature” dishes.

Erdem’s nephew, Emre Basar, will serve as general manager of The Pentagon. They plan to hire more than 30 employees for the new restaurant, which will be open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

The Pentagon’s chef will be Devon Plumb, who has worked with Erdem for more than a decade at The Oval Office.

Erdem said “light renovations” are underway at the former CorkHouse building, including addition of lights, decorating and painting.

“The rest of the building is just gorgeous,” he said. “There’s not much left to do.”