Habiba Pakistani and Indian Cuisine opening in Marion

(MODIFIED ON 1/11/2011 IN PARAGRAPH 8 WITH NAME OF ADDITIONAL LEASING AGENT AND NAME OF BUSINESS FORMERLY USING SPACE)

Babar Ijaz' first restaurant, opening this week at 1386 Twixt Town Road NE, offers a Pakistani twist on eastern cuisine.

"People expect the Indian food more, but we give them a chance to experience Pakistani foods you can't find in Cedar Rapids," Ijaz said.

The restaurant, Habiba Pakistani and Indian Cuisine, serves foods prepared from halal ingredients, and seats 42.

Ijaz had an unadvertised "soft opening" on Monday, and will offer a food buffet only this week. He was delighted when a large contingent of Rockwell Collins employees showed up Monday, along with some nearby residents who took advantage of the mild temperatures to walk in.

Ijaz, who has long worked in the restaurant business, found used equipment from the U.S. Cellular Center that helped him manage the costs of opening his first restaurant. His parents and brother have helped him renovate a space..

"We did all the painting and organizing," Ijaz said. "It took a long time, and I'm really happy now."

Habiba will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week during its soft opening, and will operate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. after its official opening next week, when it will add a regular menu of made-to-order items.

Habiba is in the Collins Road Square shopping center. Jim Angstman and Stacie Johnson of Skogman Commercial handled leasing of the space.