After burning down over a year and a half ago, Sushi Nine plans to reopen its doors in November of this year with a new design but similar atmosphere.
“We should be about two months away from opening, hopefully,” said Lisa Fatfat, the owner of Sushi Nine. “The main structure, the outside, is almost done.”
Fatfat explained that her contractor is beginning to work on the tiling and floors. She plans to have the built-in additions and equipment added in during the upcoming months.
“Everything will be brand new,” Fatfat said. “It’s a little bit bigger. The layout is very similar and our patio is going to be way bigger, but the main part of the restaurant is the same.”
Fatfat explained that she had some difficulties at the beginning of the rebuilding process with the design of the restaurant and the insurance, which is why Sushi Nine took longer to reemerge. Fatfat emphasized that everything has gone smoothly since then and she is trying to bring back the feel of the old Sushi Nine that everyone loved.
“I tried to bring back the old feeling of Sushi Nine,” Fatfat said. “You know when you walked in you might see the fish tank, even maybe some of [the] former staff. When you walk in you feel like ‘oh yeah, a familiar face, I know this server’— something like that.”
Fatfat isn’t the only one excited for the grand opening of her popular restaurant, as many NC State students made Sushi Nine a popular go-to dining option.
Lexus Strader, a third-year studying communication with a concentration in public relations, says she’s excited about the return of the Asian cuisine restaurant.
“Sushi Nine was awesome,” Strader said. “It was such a bargain, it was such a good deal. The [buy one get one free deal] was awesome, and everyone liked it.”
Like many students, Strader was saddened by the news of the restaurant burning down.
“I was really upset,” Strader said. “I was really confused as to how it even happened… it was a sad day my freshman year.”
Strader said her favorite thing about Sushi Nine was the environment. She often visited the restaurant to spend time with friends and eat a nice, affordable dinner. Strader plans to return to Sushi Nine after the reopening and eat there at least a few times a month.
Even though the restaurant is making some changes, the menu will remain the same, according to Fatfat.
While Fatfat doesn’t have a confirmed date for its reopening in November, the restaurant will still be located at its original location at 3812 Western Blvd.
