Sushi Yoshi celebrates its first year in Stowe

It may be hard to believe, but Sushi Yoshi is still just a baby — celebrating only its one-year anniversary at 1128 Mountain Road in Stowe. The restaurant has had smashing success, especially compared to some of the previous inhabitants of the building.

One might think a McDonald’s restaurant could never go out of business, but it happened in Stowe. Legend has it the town wouldn’t allow a drive-through window, and without the ability to cater to patrons on wheels, it just couldn’t stay in business. Next came a flurry of Asian eateries, with a shuffling of management and ownership through the years: Jasmine Asian Fusion, followed by Japanese steakhouse Hana (which has since moved to South Burlington), followed by the short-lived Japanese-Thai fusion Kobe.

Did the ghosts of bistros past deter Nate Freund, co-owner of Sushi Yoshi, from opening a sushi-hibachi hybrid in the star-crossed space? No, he says, but winning the trust of the locals took some time.

“To get people to come in the door, it took three months of swearing, hand-on-the-Bible, that we were a different organization,” he said.

Over the past year, Freund and his staff have worked enthusiastically to bring people in — and keep them coming back for more.

Two weeks after Sushi Yoshi opened, it threw a party — a fantastic way to start any endeavor — and gave out 1,400 “good guys” cards, entitling holders to several hours of half-price sushi, appetizers and hibachi, six days a week. Freund estimates that participants have saved a cumulative $60,000, based on about $120,000 in recorded sales to cardholders: that’s a lot of sushi. The program was enough of a success that it’s being repeated at a party on Sept. 21; current “good guys” can trade in their old cards, free, and others can join the ranks for $10.

Another token of good cheer is Sushi Yoshi’s free shuttle service, serving valiantly in lieu of public transportation, which ferries customers all over town, to and from the restaurant to their homes or hotels, from 5 p.m. to closing time.

The official Sushi Yoshi anniversary party will be thrown Friday, Aug. 29. Freund is psyched about a “low-key” celebration with a local funk band, door prizes and giveaways, a giant birthday card for diners to sign, and, to drive the point home, $3.65 specials on food and wine.

In the plans for next week is a steamroller printmaking workshop on Sept. 6. The restaurant will collaborate with Helen Day Art Center to turn the parking lot into a large-format creative art studio. In October, Sushi Yoshi will wrap up Stowe restaurant week with a fundraiser for the High Fives Foundation, featuring local personages stepping in to wait tables (and donate their tips), and John and Jen Kimmich of the Alchemist taking a turn behind the bar —and word is there’s a special batch of Crusher ale a-brewing for the occasion.

Freund is keen to keep the community happy, fed and quenched as Sushi Yoshi enters year two of the Stowe scene.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for the warm welcome the town has given us,” he said.