With over 40 years of successful operation in New York, Sushi Tomoe was a neighborhood staple. When the popular restaurant closed its doors for good after suffering a serious setback during the pandemic, fans were worried that they might never see their favorite sushi restaurant ever again.
Thankfully, a new sushi restaurant is moving into the recently vacated building that will breathe new life into the dormant space. Tomo21 Sushi is a brand new project from Fei Chen and Guo Bin Chen, expected to replace Sushi Tomoe at 172 Thompson Street.
Styled as a traditional Japanese restaurant, Tomo21 Sushi will offer 800 square feet of dining space on the ground floor, with an additional 800 square feet kitchen at the basement. With a strategic arrangement of its 13 tables and two sushi bars, Tomo21 Sushi will be able to serve up to 32 dine-in guests at one time, in addition to their take-out and delivery options.
Stepping into the shoes left behind by Sushi Tomoe will pose a difficult challenge to the new restaurant. After over 40 years of operation in the neighborhood, Sushi Tomoe had earned a prestigious reputation among locals. Earning a write up in the New York Times in 1997, Sushi Tomoe has been at the forefront of New York’s then-emerging sushi culture for decades. With wait times often lasting hours, Sushi Tomoe was one of the earliest restaurants in the neighborhood to introduce omakase to the neighborhood. When they finally closed their doors this year, loyal fans were quick to display their sadness and solidarity, giving their their well-wishes to the owners and pleading them to reopen one day. Hopefully, Fei Chen and Guo Bin Chen can offer locals some solace when they open up Tomo21 Sushi next year.
