POCATELLO — With one cut of a ribbon, Sanju Choudhury accomplished two very important things on Friday morning. He helped add a new business — with 17 full-time employees — and wiped out a blighted spot near the corner of Yellowstone and Oak in Pocatello. The Indian immigrant also fulfilled a four-year personal dream of converting the location into a large, shiny, top-of-the-line eatery.

    “We had thought about purchasing this building for several years, and it was almost demolished four years ago because it was in such bad condition,’’ said Choudhury, the operations manager who came to the United States in 1997.

    Getting things ready for his restaurant included removing gas pumps, plugging leaks and renovating bathrooms and other areas.

    “We had to jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops, as well, but the city and county really worked with us and this is the result,” Choudhury said. “It looks so beautiful as you can see. I believe this is a win for us and a definite win for the community. Pocatello needs this. It’s a very emotional and wonderful day for me.”

    The grand opening of Marhaba Middle Eastern Cuisine, with an adjacent international spice center, was greeted by friends and family and about a dozen civic and community leaders, including Mayor Brian Blad and a group representing the city’s chamber of commerce.

    The venue once housed a gas station, but that particular facility had been abandoned over four years ago. Since that time, weeds and other unwanted plants have overgrown the property. The planned final landscaping will complete the transformation.

    As it was, however, the current changes were profound for many at the function.

    “It was just a nasty eyesore,” said Tamara Code, a member of the Pocatello Chiefs, an arm of the chamber which attends events like this on a regular basis. “I just love what Sanju has done. It looks wonderful and from an economic standpoint, it’s great for this community.”

    Blad concurred, saying, “This is great. Every new business that comes into Pocatello is fantastic. This not only brings jobs and diversity, but has all kinds of other advantages.”

    As the crowd gathered to cut the symbolic ribbon, a special lunch being cooked on an outdoor grill sent the aroma of beef and lamb wafting through the assembled multitude.

    With a menu specializing in more exotic fare than perhaps many locals are used to, Choudhury vows that he is not narrowing his patronage focus. And while there are many Middle Eastern students at Idaho State University, he believes in complete inclusion.

    “This is East connecting with West,” he said. “We do have some people here from those countries, but we believe many who have not had our food will fall in love with it. I want to broaden our customer base by appealing to as many people as possible.”

    Code agrees with that philosophy. “I don’t think  Sanju opened this place for those familiar with this cuisine, but for all of us,” she said. “I know I am looking forward to dining here on a regular basis.”