Somi Sushi, a fast-casual Japanese restaurant found in Matthews, is getting ready to open a new location in Uptown Charlotte, coming to Duke Energy Plaza at 525 S. Tryon St.
Following the success at 3104 Weddington Road, co-owners chef Thomas Seo and his wife are ready to expand into a new 1,000-square-foot location, according to a Duke Energy announcement. The company’s second location is one of many new businesses coming to the property’s ground floor. Other eateries coming to the Uptown building include Albertine and Milkbread, both from restaurateurs Joe and Katy Kindred, as well as Que Fresa Taqueria + Bar. The plaza also expects to open a 24-hour eco-friendly dry-cleaning kiosk called AJ’s Dry Cleaners.
“We wanted the Duke Energy Plaza to be a showcase for diverse, locally owned small businesses,” Donna Council, senior vice president of Corporate Real Estate, Aviation, and Business Services, said in the announcement. “Ground-floor retailers like these make for a more vibrant area and help add to the dynamic fabric of uptown Charlotte.”
Duke Energy broke ground on the 40-story tower in 2019, marking a significant real estate consolidation for the company. Many of these restaurants will open in late 2023, or early 2024. Somi Sushi is expected to open in Fall 2023, according to the announcement. The restaurant will be the area’s go-to Japanese restaurant, offering sushi, katsu, sashimi, ramen dishes, and build-your-own-bento-box options. The plaza was designed to be a collaborative, innovative workspace for over 4,000 Duke Energy employees and will be fully occupied by Q4 2023.
“Our vision for the Plaza becoming a buzzing destination spot is coming into focus, and I want to thank Susan Clements with Childress Klein for helping find these inspiring tenants,” Council said. “Together, we will deliver even greater value to Charlotte for years to come.”
