CAMDEN — Architectural plans for a 100-plus-seat new restaurant for currently empty space at the 87 Elm Street building (formerly referred to as HAVII on Route 1 in Camden) arrived at the town’s code enforcement office Sept. 27.

The targeted restaurant space in the brick building is 5,600 feet and Jeff Chen, of Skowhegan, is hoping to build the new restaurant and have it open by January.

The restaurant, to be called Camden Island, will serve traditional Chinese food.

“It will be a very nice restaurant,” he said.

Chen also operates two other restaurants, one in Pittsfield, the other in Skowhegan.

Restaurant plans, which were created by Camden architect Joe Rusillo, include 68 seats at tables, plus a private dining room, and seating at a bar.

Chen said he has signed the lease for the space, which occupies the former HAVII video store, plus the former Harbor Audio Video retail space.

The 26,848-square-foot building, known simply as 87 Elm, changed hands in June 2016 when Carolyn Morong, who had constructed it, sold the building to Emsworth Property LLC, of Chicago. Co-owner of the building is Tom Yoder, according to the municipal property card.

The commercial building’s use is classified as store/shop and currently there are approximately 12 businesses (including PenBayPilot.com) and nonprofits operating on both floors of the building.

Renovating the space to a sit-down restaurant would be, according to town ordinance, changing one permitted use to another permitted use and will not require planning board review.

Code Enforcement Office Bill O’Donnell said he would be reviewing the application over the next few weeks.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657