Ching Wei Fan (left), Henry Wang, and Kim Flierl are bringing a new Japanese steakhouse restaurant to Short Pump. Photos by Michael Thompson.
A Short Pump Japanese restaurant space will soon see its hibachi reignited after a year-long vacancy.
Led by an experienced trio from Williamsburg, Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has leased the storefront at 11674 W. Broad St. The space has sat vacant since Osaka Sushi and Steak closed in September.
Owners Henry Wang, Ching Wei Fan, and Kim Flierl have a five-year lease on the 3,400-square-foot restaurant, which is in the same retail strip as Regal Cinemas. They have confidence despite the failure of the previous tenant.
“Between the three of us we’ve got 50 years of experience,” Flierl said.
Wang, 45, previously owned a Kyoto location in Williamsburg that he sold in March. Fan and Flierl worked at the Williamsburg location before taking on ownership roles with Wang in Richmond.
Kyoto’s future home is at 11674 W. Broad St.
Wang also opened a Kyoto in Chesapeake in 1990 and sold it in 2012. He said he sees opportunity in Richmond.
“The area is booming,” he said. “I looked a little bit at different areas, but I love the Short Pump area.”
They’ll have one less nearby restaurant to compete with following the closure this month of the Short Pump Chili’s.
Wang and his partners are ready to spend $150,000 to open the new Kyoto in October. Planned renovations include new booths, carpeting, and color scheme. They are financing it themselves and bank with C&F Bank.
“The most important thing is you got to have a system to run the restaurant,” Wang said. “The second thing is you got to have the passion.”
Ching Wei Fan (left), Henry Wang, and Kim Flierl are bringing a new Japanese steakhouse restaurant to Short Pump. Photos by Michael Thompson.
A Short Pump Japanese restaurant space will soon see its hibachi reignited after a year-long vacancy.
Led by an experienced trio from Williamsburg, Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has leased the storefront at 11674 W. Broad St. The space has sat vacant since Osaka Sushi and Steak closed in September.
Owners Henry Wang, Ching Wei Fan, and Kim Flierl have a five-year lease on the 3,400-square-foot restaurant, which is in the same retail strip as Regal Cinemas. They have confidence despite the failure of the previous tenant.
“Between the three of us we’ve got 50 years of experience,” Flierl said.
Wang, 45, previously owned a Kyoto location in Williamsburg that he sold in March. Fan and Flierl worked at the Williamsburg location before taking on ownership roles with Wang in Richmond.
Kyoto’s future home is at 11674 W. Broad St.
Wang also opened a Kyoto in Chesapeake in 1990 and sold it in 2012. He said he sees opportunity in Richmond.
“The area is booming,” he said. “I looked a little bit at different areas, but I love the Short Pump area.”
They’ll have one less nearby restaurant to compete with following the closure this month of the Short Pump Chili’s.
Wang and his partners are ready to spend $150,000 to open the new Kyoto in October. Planned renovations include new booths, carpeting, and color scheme. They are financing it themselves and bank with C&F Bank.
“The most important thing is you got to have a system to run the restaurant,” Wang said. “The second thing is you got to have the passion.”