A sushi burrito shop near RTP has closed its doors after eight years in business.
Sushiōki announced on its website that it had permanently closed, thanking fans and guests for their years of orders. Its last day was Oct. 17.
“After 8 amazing years, and with heavy hearts, we have made the difficult decision to close Sushioki,” the owners posted online. “We are very grateful to our customers, many of whom became our friends, and to our community for your support over the years. It has been our pleasure to serve you. Thank you for every visit, every order, and every kind word.”
Sushiōki was owned by full-time pastor Lawrence Yoo, who leads Waypoint Church in Durham. Calling it the “end of an era” on social media, Yoo said Sushiōki met its mission.
“We opened this restaurant back in 2018 with no idea how it would do or how long it would last,” the post reads. “The memories made, the people we met, the small business collabs we had, it was all a true blessing! We are so thankful to everyone who supported us! We believe Sushiōki was created for a purpose and a mission, and as we close our doors we are trusting that it served the purpose it was intended!”
Sushiōki was distinct among sushi restaurants in that it didn’t serve any traditional rolls. The restaurant was built around sushi burritos, serving more than a dozen varieties, from California-style to burritos stuffed with bulgogi. It also served salads, rice bowls and flavored teas.
Beyond the menu, though, Sushiōki had a higher calling than fast-casual fusion food. It opened in 2018 with the goal to provide employment to refugees. The restaurant and its mission were mentioned in a Vogue magazine story in 2018 about the national trend at the time. Yoo opened Sushiōki with church member Jeff Carter, with the restaurant born out of refugee resettlement work the Waypoint church had been doing.
“We discovered a need that we had in the community for living wage jobs that kind of were flexible enough to work with the refugees in our community,” Yoo said in a PBS story in 2019.
Sushiōki closes amid shrinking margins throughout the restaurant industry. Yoo said in an online post that the restaurant could feel the end coming.
“It’s a sad day, but one we could see coming,” he said. “We hope that we had an impact on many of you just as you all did on us!”
The N&O reached out to Yoo and will update this story upon response.
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