Updated 8/9/16 to include additional details from the owners.
The rumors have been swirling about the building at 2349 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., the windows of which have been covered with signs saying "Sushi Soon" and "Sushi Innovation."
We’ve been on the trail to find out what’s happening in the space for the past couple of weeks, and today our efforts bore fruit.
In a phone conversation late this morning, John Puente confirmed that he has sold the building which once housed Puente’s Barber Shop.
"I’m 87 years old, and it’s time for me to retire," says Puente, who also provided information for the party who facilitated the sale.
Clarence Morse of Brew City Contractors, who assisted the owners in finding the location, confirmed the sale. He also confirmed that the concept for the new restaurant will be sushi.
"This has been in the works for about 10 months or so," he notes. "The owners were originally looking in Wauwatosa, but decided to switch gears and look in Bay View."
Morse notes that the timeline for the restaurant is still pending, since they are uncertain about whether they will remodel the building or tear it down and replace it with new construction. But the hope is that they'll be able to open the restaurant before mid-2017.
The tentative name of the new restaurant is Sushi Yuki, which means "sushi happiness." The venue will be operated by Jin San Koh and Sung Hee Kim, according to city assessment records. Koh and Kim also own Sakura Japan Sushi & Grill in Waukesha. They also formerly operated Osaka Japan on Milwaukee’s East Side.
Koh is a trained student of sushi and Japanese dishes, having graduated at the top of his class from the Tokyo Sushi Academy. He says he hopes bring the good food and culture of Japan to Bayview with a traditional and cozy restaurant.
Watch OnMilwaukee for additional details as they develop.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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