Umiya Sushi Opens Its Doors on Duke Street Friday, August 8
Alexandria, VA – Umiya Sushi will open its doors to the public Friday, August 8, at 11 am for a soft opening. The new restaurant, located at 3000 Duke Street in the building vacated by Generous George’s some years ago, features a new concept in Japanese dining.
Jeff and Kelly Yates, who own the building at 3000 Duke Street, have partnered with Aaron and Jason Lin, who own a few Japanese restaurants in Washington DC, Falls Church, and Arlington. The Lins are now taking the all-you-can-eat buffet concept to a higher level, with premium, top choice ingredients. Think wagyu beef, uni, and lobster.
It’s a vision based on the Japanese notion of omakase, or chef’s choice. This interactive approach to the relationship between the chef and the guest means the guest is treated to the chef’s skill and talent to impress and delight.
As Aaron Lin explained, “We already have premium restaurant experience with our other properties, and we wanted to create an all-you-can-eat restaurant with high-end Japanese cuisine.”
People have been very interested in this location, said Lin. He approached Jeff Yates with the idea and promised, “I won’t let you down.” Yates gave him a chance and has been supporting him all the way.
“They’re a family business who work super hard,” said Yates, “and we promised that by working together as landlord and tenant we’d do everything we could to help them make a positive splash in any way we can!”
Once the lease was signed about a year ago, the challenge was combining a Japanese restaurant with an American style eatery. They took a few months to visualize and design the concept, and then the work began.
In addition to the buffet, there will be sushi, ramen and barbecue on the menu. Lin’s team wanted to include more Asian culture, so they created a special service bar with boba tea and other beverages. A cold bar will have appetizers, such as snow crab, and a hot bar will feature dim sum, sumai, and bao. For dessert, look for the cake bar.
The main dining room seats 120 with tables and booths. Upstairs, there is a bar and outdoor area, with wide garage doors that open to combine the space into one big comfortable area for private parties and events. Downstairs, there is even more space for regular dining as well as parties and events.
Umiya’s soft opening takes place Friday, August 8, 11 am to 11 pm. Service will take place on the first floor level, as the team finds its groove with the new location. “They are seasoned operators at opening restaurants,” said Jeff Yates. “At the walk through, the whole family was present and wanted to be part of the event.” Kelly Yates agreed, adding, “Aaron Lin and his cousin Jason truly understand the need for a crowd-pleasing restaurant. We feel very lucky to have them as part of the community.”
Stay tuned for the Grand Opening in a couple of weeks. For all the latest news about this exciting new restaurant, follow them on Instagram and Facebook: umiyasushiva. Visit their website at https://www.umiyasushiva.com/
