More on Utage closing

I had a story in today's paper about the closing of Utage restaurant in Independence Mall. (It includes more information from the previous post.) Here it is:


The Oka family, owners of Utage Authentic Japanese Cuisine, said they are closing the 22-year-old eatery that's parked in the corner of the Independence Mall off U.S. 202. The last business day is Aug. 30.

Chihiro Oka, whose father Yuichiro opened the Brandywine Hundred restaurant, said he had hoped to revamp and renovate the restaurant but couldn't come to an agreement on the lease with the mall's owner.

The Okas have not sold the business or the Utage name.

Chihiro Oka said he hopes to find a new location in the next six months to a year for Utage, which has been serving sushi and sashimi since 1986. "It won't be in the same area, but it won't be real far from where we are now."

In the meantime, Oka said he plans to offer private parties and events for Utage fans who are on the restaurant's mailing list. (To have your name included, visit the web site here.)

"We've had very, very great customers for the past 22 years. They are so loyal to us," he said. "We want to be able to provide our food to them."

Before Utage, which means "banquet of celebration," opened in 1986, diners had to drive to Philadelphia to belly up to a sushi bar. While Delaware did have a handful of Japanese restaurants, none had an authentic sushi bar.

Utage owner and executive chef Yuichiro Oka, who had previously worked with Benihana of Tokyo for 15 years, told The News Journal that he had decided on the Wilmington area for his then-brand new Japanese restaurant because it was less competitive than the Philadelphia area.

In recent years, his son and business partner Chihiro Oka has served as manager and head sushi chef.