CORALVILLE - A taste of Down Under could soon appear on the strip.

Outback Steakhouse likely will be a featured business at a proposed strip mall near the Coral Ridge Mall.

Developer Gerry Ambrose said final negotiations are underway to put the national steakhouse at his new strip mall near the Coral Ridge Mall.

"It looks like the deal is done, but we don't have a lease signed yet," he said.

Coralville councilors Tuesday night approved the first reading of a zoning change for a property at 25th Avenue and Second Street, which would allow Ambrose to create a strip mall at the corner. The location was the site of the Coral Fruit Market, which closed Thursday.

"This has been one of the most requested restaurants in Coralville for years," said Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett.

The closest Outback Steakhouses are in Cedar Rapids and Davenport.

In the fruit market's place, Ambrose has proposed the construction of the Coral Valley Market, a 31,000-square foot mall, slightly larger than half a football field. Other tenants include Panchero's Mexican Grill, HuHot Mongolian Grill and Beauty First Salon.

Ambrose said he is working to attract a national ice cream chain, a bank, area gift store and women's retail stores to the site.

Construction crews have begun work on the property. The building, designed by Neumann Monson, will have a stone façade and is expected to be complete by November or December.

Ambrose has worked on area development deals, including revitalization of Sycamore Mall and marketing properties in Iowa City's Peninsula Neighborhood.