DENVER (KDVR) — Arvada locals are heartbroken after a beloved sushi spot, Namiko’s, introduced on Tuesday it will be closing its doorways this week after substantial private and monetary struggles.
Namiko’s Sushi and Japanese Restaurant was Yuri Chandonnet’s dream. When she opened the restaurant in 1989, she named the restaurant Namiko’s after her 13-year-old daughter.
“She needed me to be financially steady. She needed me to have someplace to name my very own when she handed on,” mentioned her daughter, Namiko Eshima. “She had been working in eating places just about all of her life. Rising up in Japan. She knew {that a} restaurant may be very laborious work. She additionally knew that if she did a very good job, that it will be one thing that I’d have the ability to make a residing from and maintain a household.”
Eshima took over the restaurant in 2017 after her mom handed away and has been attempting to maintain the household enterprise operating ever since.
Locals and regulars dined at this restaurant for 35 years. It was the place the place folks received engaged and celebrated anniversaries, mentioned Eshima. The restaurant was adored by the Arvada group.
What killed enterprise was the pandemic.
“We suffered the identical shutdowns as everyone else, however being a sushi restaurant, it truly is a type of issues the place you wish to eat sushi and also you wish to eat it instantly, you don’t wish to eat it out of the field,” mentioned Eshima.
Her gross sales dropped 70%-75% through the pandemic. The restaurant survived COVID, however within the following years, the restaurant by no means recovered.
Her monetary advisor advised her to get out after the pandemic, however she needed to maintain her mom’s dream alive. It was her household enterprise.
Eshima put every little thing she had into it. After the pandemic, Eshima used her mom’s inheritance to maintain the enterprise afloat. At the start of 2023, Eshima bought her home and put all of the proceeds in the direction of the restaurant, but it surely nonetheless wanted extra. So, Eshima took out a $100k mortgage.
“I actually put myself in that monetary catastrophe zone leveraging every little thing I’ve to maintain this place open,” mentioned Eshima.
Eshima fought to maintain the restaurant open, however after she was recognized with most cancers in November of 2023, she made the ultimate choice to shut the restaurant.
After Eshima posted on Fb that the restaurant was closing, regulars stopped by on Tuesday. They dined, cried and shared tales from Namiko’s, mentioned Eshima.
Over 100 feedback flooded the Fb web page. Listed here are a number of of them:
“I’m so unhappy to learn this. I’ve been fortunately consuming there for 27 years. The most effective sushi on the town. I’m so sorry, Nami, that you’re going through one other battle. I understand how laborious this choice is for you. You’ve gotten labored laborious to honor your mom. She was a tremendous woman. Might the Lord present you mercy. We’ll miss you very a lot,” commented Elizabeth on the Fb publish.
“That is so heartbreaking! I’m so sorry it’s important to battle this battle. My husband and I had our first date there and each anniversary since then. For a really very long time you have got all been part of our household. Thanks for every little thing and we are going to all attempt to come down Friday! Good luck!” commented Amanda.
“Wishing you all the perfect in your battle and your subsequent journey. Namiko’s has all the time held a particular place in our household, ever since we moved to Arvada 30 years in the past. We’ll miss you,” commented Stella.
Eshima’s operating the restaurant till stock sells out, which must be on Friday or Saturday, Eshima predicts.
Since Eshima’s Fb publish, the restaurant has been packed. Reservations for Wednesday night time are absolutely booked because it’s the final week Namiko’s is open.
Eshima declined low gives to purchase out the restaurant. She is closing the doorways and strolling away from the enterprise.
With the restaurant closing, Eshima is specializing in her well being. She has a spotfund to assist together with her medical prices.
“Rising up on this group and watching folks develop, develop their households and graduate from highschool and are available again and get married and have youngsters and I’ve been fortunate sufficient to see all of that. I simply actually admire our group and all of our clients,” mentioned Eshima.
