The Junction Salon and Bar has moved from the Depot to a storefront in the Dillon (across from RUSBUS). Hoping something good fills that space in the Depot.
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Per the TBJ, Clyde Coopers sold its property for $2.24m. It will remain for the next 6 months. Then Hibachi 88 will open, targeting next April.
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Man you just keep beating me to the punch! Lol
Gotta get those imaginary online hearts!
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There are better BBQ spots downtown now, but the Clyde Coopers space is still a cool one. Hard to imagine a local chain hibachi spot will have the same type of feel.
The Clyde Coopers owner certainly made enough of a public outcry about how she felt about downtown. Interested to see if they reopen elsewhere.
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I can’t remember where I saw it but the latest was that Clyde Cooper’s was moving somewhere else within the downtown boundary but no further details were given.
Yeah, she did it exactly backwards. Went to the paper to complain about how much it sucked running a business downtown and that they were moving, and then tried to turn around and sell the space. The best I can say about the BBQ is that it’s fine. But if she’s banking on success wherever they move “because it’s an institution”, well good luck I guess.
Also, she’s quoted in the N&O as saying they don’t have a new location lined up but “maybe Seaboard.” That’s not how you should run a lease negotiation!
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“Running a business downtown SUCKS!!!”
sells for MILLIONS and immediately plans to find a different location also downtown
YEAH, OK. lmao - also their BBQ straight up SUCKS. No need to sugarcoat it. They’ve just floated by on their history as being one of the first (read: only) BBQ spots in Downtown Raleigh for a long time, but now we have MUCH better options from people that don’t talk sh*t about the city that’s supported them their entire careers. She truly played herself with that article LOL
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Probably not the same type of feel, but it could succeed due to being basically the only hibachi place downtown. (There’s other Japanese, but they are primarily sushi and/or ramen.) But Coopers had plenty of BBQ competition—and they weren’t competing well with them. At least Hibachi 88 gives us something different.
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I’ve actually been bitching that there’s no good hibachi places downtown. And I’ve essentially boycotted Clyde Cooper’s because of all their inflammatory comments they’ve made about downtown.
So, this is a win/win for me.
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Left Hook Coffee just launched their Kickstarter! Let’s help them carve out a coffee shop in East Raleigh!
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Is there good hibachi in the triangle? Kanki is a joke, I assume the various strip mall places aren’t much better.
Are you talking about flaming volcano and shrimp toss?
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I’ve never liked Hibachi but I’m open to trying again if someone with taste recommends it cause all I know is Kanki and Kabuki and I felt all you’re paying for is the experience, which was meh. The food was meh also.
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Two Words:
Tenko Japan
Hibachi takeout in Cary near crossroads (next to Moe’s) and I think somewhere else in Raleigh.
The best of hibachi style food without the show, to go. (or eat in). 1/3 the price of Kanki or Kabuki. The place is 
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I want to try Benihana. They’re from up my way but they didn’t have them in my town. I did see a hot air balloon by them featuring a chef’s head and the chef hat annually at a hot air balloon festival. I feel like they kind of invented the American hibachi experience, so at least they have history. But they don’t exist here either, so that’s a long-term goal. I can’t tell if I just got too bougie or if the hibachi options here just aren’t great. But I like the idea in general, and even the silly show is fun. I can cook the food more or less on my own, but I’m looking for a good experience I can have going out.
Maybe this is our niche market. Quality downtown hibachi. We could be consultants
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Benihana was on my list of national restaurants/retail missing in Raleigh that we should welcome. They will open one eventually, but the closest is in northern VA right now.
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It’s tucked across from Olde Raleigh shopping center off Edwards Mill Road. http://www.tenkojapan.com/
In the mean time I will plug Little Native on South Person Street
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+1, I’m pumped for Left Hook and having a real neighborhood corner coffee house smack dab in the middle of ER. But I’ll probably never switch from Little Native. Sustainable business model and it has been fun watching them grow over the past couple years. Great people who know your name. Their foot traffic is consistent 7 days a week now.
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