The team behind Conceptually Social, a local hospitality company led by Kyu Utsunomiya and Troy Watkins, is preparing to open a new restaurant in Phoenix while soon relocating another.
The two industry veterans are in the process of relocating their Japanese and Latin fusion restaurant Kaizen, which had its last day in late May. The restaurant sat in the multi-use coworking space known as Galvanize since 2020 but will soon relocate inside of its sister concept, Silo, a coffee shop and cafe located at Tempe’s Hayden Ferry Lakeside building, according to the company’s website. The new “mini Kaizen,” featuring the same delicious food in a smaller space, is expected to open in mid-to-late August.
This appears to be a temporary spot for the brand, as the announcement mentions this decision to move to this location is only happening while the company looks for its next home, or homes, as the post puts it. This means Conceptually Social could open more than one location of Kaizen throughout Phoenix. While the duo looks for a new space for the restaurant’s next brick-and-mortar, the company is hosting a collab dinner series at their downtown warehouse district location at 515 E Grant Street, where guests will have a chance to enjoy some Kaizen classics by Chef Micki paired with dishes by Chef Rika of Zu & Pocha.
Conceptually Social is also opening a new restaurant at the Phoenix Art Museum, according to the museum’s website. While the team operates a pop-up coffee spot called Temporary Cafe at the museum, offering coffee, sandwiches, salads, and pastries, they will soon open a yet-to-be-named concept in the Fall of 2024. Details on the new establishment will be announced in the coming months.
