By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
First impressions mean a lot and for those visiting the Hibachi and Sushi Buffet at the East Pointe shopping area in Bucyrus the first impression was astonishment.
“Everybody likes a fine dining experience and now it’s right here in Bucyrus,” Chamber of Commerce Director Deb Pinion said. Thursday was the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the enterprise led by patriarch Huashan Ye.
“My father came here a long time ago,” said son, Nathan Ye. “I kind of followed him here.”
Billed as “Bucyrus’s first and largest Hibachi buffet,” the remodeled and expanded dining area can seat 130 diners. Owned and operated as a family, Nathan says the family has been in the restaurant business for more than 10 years and his family has lived in Bucyrus for over six.
Nathan says the menu isn’t limited to Japanese cuisine.
“Kind of (an) Asian restaurant,” Nathan said. “We have Hibachi considered Japanese, and sushi as well as tea. And some Chinese and salad. A kind of mix, all kinds of styles.”
Taking over the location of a former Chinese restaurant in East Point, this restaurant looks nothing like its predecessor on the inside and is considerably larger.
“They actually got in touch with us,” said Ty Weithman who owns and operates East Pointe. “They came in and expanded by 1,500 square feet.”
Weithman said the restaurant now occupies approximately 5,000 square feet.
Pinion said the new restaurant is a welcome addition to the Bucyrus business community.
“It’s definitely a step up, several steps up from what it was before,” Pinion said in reference to the location’s previous tenant.
The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and has 10 employees. It offers carryout as well as dine in meals.