A Florida restaurant group is negotiating for space on the North Shore that it hopes to turn into the Jerome Bettis' Grille 36, a sports-themed restaurant associated with one of Pittsburgh's favorite former Steelers.

Fort Lauderdale-based Celebrity Ventures already operates two similar restaurants, one in Florida associated with former Marlins baseball player Jeff Conine, and one in Columbus, Ohio, with Eddie George, former running back at Ohio State and with the Tennessee Titans.

Mr. George, a friend of Mr. Bettis, put the two parties together, said Bob McCarthy, one of three partners in the restaurant group.

The goal is to get the Pittsburgh restaurant open within a year, but that will depend on signing a lease for a location. He said the group believed that it was close to a deal for space on the first floor of the Del Monte regional headquarters building, not far from Heinz Field.

"I think we can get it done," said Frank Kass, chairman of Continental Real Estate Cos. of Columbus, who added that discussions were ongoing. He said the restaurant would look out of the curved windows facing toward the stadium.

The group is looking for between 7,500 and 10,000 square feet, said Mr. McCarthy. Each new site has kept about 80 percent of the menu consistent across restaurants with the rest adapted to local specialities and favorite dishes of the associated sports celebrity. Cheesy fries, something that Mr. George likes, are not sold in the Florida site, for example. Dinner checks tend to average between $20 and $22.

If the Jerome Bettis restaurant is successful, there could be more than one location. Celebrity Ventures is looking for additional Columbus-area sites for Eddie George restaurants. Mr. McCarthy said the company also was in talks to do restaurants in Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

The group's first attempt at an Eddie George site was in Nashville, Tenn., but that restaurant has since closed.

Meanwhile, several restaurants are planned for the North Shore development between the two sports facilities, including a Hyde Park Steakhouse, McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, and Calico Jacks Cantina.