Alandmark restaurantfor birthday celebrations, anniversaries and family dinners has permanently closed its doors in Ormond Beach.
Takeya Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar, located at 220 N. Williamson Blvd., announced its immediate closure in a Monday afternoonFacebook post, stating that its owners “have decided that it is time to step back and allow other entrepreneurs to begin a new chapter for the iconic Takeya building.”
The post goes on to express gratitude for the “support, loyalty, and the many memories we’ve shared over the years," noting "it has been an honor to serve you and be part of this community. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives.”
Who is behind Takeya Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar?
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The beloved steakhouse and hibachi restaurant is owned by husband-and-wife duo Chris and Bichnga Bui of Ormond Beach.
“We are both originally from Vietnam. My husband came here in 1975, right at the fall of South Vietnam, and I followed three years later,” Bichnga told The News-Journal. “… We went through high school here, and we went to college here. And we met after college, so this is our home, really.”
Chris has lived in Ormond Beach since 1985, Bichnga noted, while she moved to the area in 1991 — the year they married.
Chris, an industry veteran, has spent almost 41 years in the restaurant business, having opened Ormond’s Bamboo Garden restaurant in 1985, which he later sold to his sister and brother-in-law before opening Takeya in 1997, according to Bichnga.
Bamboo Garden, specializing in Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, is still in operation under different owners.
Why did Takeya Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar close?
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“It’s been almost 30 years with Takeya … At this point, we are in our 60s, and we want to retire,” Bichnga said, noting it was important for the couple to make a formal announcement regarding the restaurant’s closure as to not leave customers in the dark.
“We just want to step back, and we’re offering other entrepreneurs the opportunity to use our building —which we put a lot of time and effort into creating,” she continued.
“So, maybe they can use it for something else that is going to serve the community just as well and just as long … We don’t know what’s gonna go in there. So, right now, we’re just open for any possibility.”
What was Takeya Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar known for?
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The restaurant built its reputation around lively hibachi tables where flying spatulas and sizzling grills turned even ordinary dinners into an occasion.
Beyond the energetic atmosphere, guests could enjoy expansive sushi offerings, steak and surf-and-turf dinners and a broad lineup of pan-Asian staples, from curry dishes to noodle bowls.
Takeya holds a 4.2-star rating online, with nearly 1,500 reviews. Since announcing its closure Monday, the restaurant’s online post has garnered more than 1,100 social interactions, with Bichnga describing the finality of the decision as still “surreal.”
“It’s bittersweet … We’re trying to kind of wrap our heads around it that this is the reality. We’ve been talking about it for years — you know, when we were going to retire, what’s going to happen and what we were going to do,” she said.
“My husband, he’s just exhausted, you know? … But we’re just so thankful that we have made so many friends through the business. Our customers are really our friends … so, it’s really hard. We feel relieved at the same time that we are sad we have to say goodbye.”
Takeya Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar was located at 220 N. Williamson Blvd. in Ormond Beach. For information, visit takeyasteakhouse.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal:Takeya Japanese Steak House closes after 30 years. Here's what's next
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