An Asian bistro has signed a contract to open a location in the Beau Rivage Marketplace, said Nick Silivanch, who represented the shopping center in the deal.

Sushi X, owned by Raleigh restaurateur Thai Nguyen, will bring its diverse Asian menu to the shopping center, 5920 Carolina Beach Road, south of Monkey Junction. Beau Rivage Marketplace is anchored by Harris Teeter and boasts several eateries. The new Asian restaurant will occupy the roughly 4,800-square-foot space that formerly housed Tengu Japanese Steakhouse, said Silivanch, vice president of retail leasing and acquisition for Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners and principal leasing agent with Team Silivanch.

Sushi X is a relatively new concept for Nguyen, a veteran restaurateur with nine restaurants in the Triangle. He said that, when contemplating expanding to Wilmington, he wanted to develop a new brand for the area. Sushi X was the result, with its wide range of offerings that include sushi and other Japanese specialties as well as Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes.

This will be Sushi X's second location. Earlier this year, the bistro opened at Hampstead Town Center. It has done well enough, Nguyen said, that he moved ahead with plans for a similar bistro in New Hanover County.

Now that the lease is official, Nguyen said he will begin extensive remodeling of the space to make it more upscale. He expects an October opening for his new eatery.

The new tenant was represented in the Beau Rivage Marketplace leasing negotiations by Vijay Shah of Raleigh-based Trademark Properties.

Team Silivanch, of Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners, assumed primary leasing responsibilities for Beau Rivage Marketplace a year ago. The retail center is owned by Beau Rivage Marketplace LLC.

Two units remain available for lease in the Beau Rivage shopping center, Silivanch said.