He's being coy about the location, but
Lewis Lin, the man behind Susuru, Jade Sushi & New Asian, and the soon-to-open
Susuru Yatai in the Bumby Arcade food hall, will open another retro-themed izakaya in town, this one on East Colonial Drive just outside the Mills 50 corridor.
Just sleuthing from the provided rendering, my hunch is that it's the old Pizza Hut location at
700 Maguire Blvd. across from the Fashion Square Mall. Take a look at the Google Maps image and see if you agree:
Much like the original
Susuru on Palm Parkway, Susuru Juju will be decked out in Shōwa-era memorabilia fusing a homey simplicity with a healthy dose of nostalgia. (The
Shōwa era, 1926-89, was the period when Emperor Hirohito reigned, and Astroboy and Godzilla stole hearts.)
Lin anticipates opening Susuru Juju sometime this winter.
In addition to binchotan-grilled yakitori (chicken), kushiyaki (meats and veggies), yakizakana (fish), A5 wagyu and other izakaya "soul food" items like ramen, Susuru Juju will feature a "kappou bar" where sashimi, partially torched (
aburi-style) meats, grilled fish and seafood will be prepared and served.
The restaurant draws inspiration from
tachinomiya, affordable "standing bars," as well as
yokocho, the unpretentious pubs and eateries found in alleyways in Japan. Naturally, sake, cocktails and a DIY
Chu-Hi highball menu will be offered.
"JuJu," in case you're wondering, is the Japanese word for the sizzling sound made from grilling meat. Now that is definitely some good juju.
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