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Current News

2006-12-22: Macha Café Grand Reopening

The Macha Café, at 1355 Sutter St, will reopen on Tuesday, 26 December. The matcha lattés are back! ^_^

2006-12-22: Sachi is now Festa

The Sachi Cocktail Lounge karaoke bar in the Kinokuniya Building space 210 is under new management and is now called the Festa Wine & Cocktail Lounge. It was closed for remodeling and reopened on December 15. It is still a karaoke bar, with the following business hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 6:00p-1:00a; Fridays, 6:00p-2:00a; Saturdays, 3:00p-2:00a, and Sundays 3:00p-12:00m.

2006-11-24: New restaurant coming to Kinokuniya Bldg

The construction at the northeast corner of the Kinokuniya Building is for a restaurant. Completion is estimated for mid-December.

2006-11-16: New store opening in Kintetsu Mall

Katachi will be opening in a couple of days in suite 326 (previously Tokyo Motor Trenz, between Moritaya and The Omodaka). The store carries a wide selection of swords, along with statuettes, bamboo and stone fountains, lamps, dolls, fans, etc.

2006-11-10: Macha Cafe changing owners

The owners of the Macha Cafe have decided to sell the cafe. It will be closed as of November 15, and the new owner might open as early as December 1. He will keep the look as is, but will have changes to the menu. Aaron and Hiromi will now be focusing on their event photography business, which they have been doing for the past few years.

2006-10-13: Rename the Miyako Inn!

Between now and October 23, JDV Hospitality is accepting submissions to rename the Miyako Inn. Submissions may be made either in person at the hotel or via email.
Related stories: SF Chronicle, USA Today blog.

2006-09-26: New property management company for Japan Center malls

3D Investments recently chose K & S Real Estate Management to take over management of the Miyako and Kintetsu malls.
Related stories: BizJournals.com, AsianWeek.

2006-09-21: New restaurants open in Buchanan Mall

The most recent addition to Buchanan Mall is the Playground Karaoke Lounge, up [the brand new] stairs from Denny's. It features Korean food, a bar and private rooms, and is open 5:30-12:00 Sunday to Wednesday, and 5:30-2:00 Thursday to Saturday. Phone number is 929-1471.

Also new is Doobu, a Korean restaurant featuring tofu soup (only one appears to be vegetarian). It replaces R. Maki at 1723 Buchanan.

2006-09-08: Super7 moves slightly

Super7 Store has moved next door, to 1628 Post St. The grand reopening was celebrated with a party Friday night from 7-10pm.

2006-05-25: Planning Commission favors SUD

At 6:35pm, the city planning commission voted unanimously(!) to pass the Special Use District legislation for Japantown. A provision was also added to reexamine its effects after two years.

Recent News

Major Japantown properties being sold by Kintetsu

Kintetsu Enterprises, based in Osaka, is selling off their Japantown properties which comprise the majority -- and the focal point -- of this cherished neighborhood. There is a petition to Save Japantown which has received over 17,000 signatures, but it looks like 3D Investments of Bevery Hills is buying it anyway, despite failing to agree to many key points of preservation which should have been dealbreakers.

A previous petition to keep Starbucks out of Japantown was successful.

2006-03-24: Sundance Cinemas buys Kabuki 8 theater

Related stories:
Hollywood Reporter (2006-03-24)
Backstage (2006-03-23)
SFGate (2006-03-24)

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japantownsf.com © 2006 Walter Ian Kaye