Open for Business: Craft Sushi

SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton

Jenny and Michael Cho, Craft Sushi

Craft Sushi
A customizable sushi roll and poke bowl restaurant dubbed Craft Sushi opened Nov. 7 at 1251 E. Sunshine St., Ste. 116. Located in a new, roughly $4 million retail and office center at the intersection of Sunshine Street and National Avenue, the eatery is co-owned by husband-and-wife Michael and Jenny Cho under E&L Partners LLC. “The idea is to bring as much local ingredients to a fast-casual concept,” said Michael Cho, describing the concept “like a Subway or like a Chipotle, but with sushi ingredients.” The build-your-own rolls and bowls feature protein choices, such as tofu or yellow-fin tuna flown in from Hawaii. Cho said he signed a three-year lease and is paying roughly the base rate of $18 per square foot for in-line space within the development – approximately $2,250 per month. Cho said he plans to remain in his position as the director of hospitality at Hickory Hills Country Club, while Jenny Cho manages Craft Sushi’s daily operations. She’s a freelance graphic designer by trade and created the logo for the restaurant.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Phone: (417) 319-5887
Web: Craft-Sushi.com

Tower Village
Springfield-based O’Reilly Development Co. LLC added senior-living center Tower Village to its portfolio. At the time of an Oct. 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce, the 36-unit housing development was 70 percent occupied, said company spokeswoman Brenda Raynor. At 623 Tower Road, off Interstate 44 in Lebanon, the $6.2 million Tower Village spans nearly 30,000 square feet, separated by a tree line from Mercy Hospital Lebanon. It has 30 two-bedroom units and six one-bedroom units on one floor. O’Reilly Development Co. utilized low-income housing tax credits valued at $3.8 million over a 10-year period. Tower Village also is a bronze-level, green-certified project by the National Association of Home Builders for its lot design, land preparation and energy efficiencies, among other metrics. The property is managed by Ellisworth-based HMR Services LLC.
Phone: (636) 527-2003
Web: HRMServices.org/tower-village

Sun Solar LLC
Sun Solar LLC’s new headquarters at 2531 N. Patterson Ave. became fully operational Oct. 1. The solar panel installation and consultancy firm was formerly located at 1900 W. Sunset St. Company spokesman Wil Hanger said the firm planned to expand its workforce in November, with the intention of reaching 120 employees by year’s end. He said the company invested around $60,000 to renovate the former home of Springfield Sign & Graphics Inc., which in 2017 moved to Partnership Industrial Center. Sun Solar purchased the 15,400-square-foot building for $1 million, with some of the company operations moving to the facility in May while renovation work was ongoing. “We immediately started construction and built additional walls and offices, so we have increased our office space while keeping the warehouse space the same,” Hanger said. Sun Solar recorded 2017 revenue of $19.5 million, for three-year growth of 353 percent.
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: (417) 413-1786
Web: USSunSolar.com