Last week, the Japanese-inspired teppanyaki-style quick service restaurant chain Edo Japan opened its first location in Newfoundland. The unit opened in the food court at Avalon Mall in St John’s. The franchise partners are veteran restauranteurs Sweety and Parth Patel. Edo Japan is a Canadian quick-service franchise founded in 1979 in Calgary that combines Japanese-inspired teppanyaki cooking with fast-casual convenience. The menu features freshly prepared teriyaki-grilled proteins, bento boxes, sushi, and ramen, all cooked to order and served with its signature teriyaki sauce. In addition to food court locations when the opportunities are available, the Edo Japan restaurants traditionally locate in highly visible street front locations that offer strong daytime demographics and grocery anchored centres with convenient access ranging from 1000 to 1500 square feet with seating for 15 to 25 guests. Currently there are over 200 Edo Japan locations in Canada and recently, in the U.S. Edo Japan’s National Director, Real Estate Janine Maginniss noted that the chain is actively seeking sites in both Newfoundland and the Maritime Provinces, focusing on the larger areas with 20,000 or more people. “On top of that, we’ve just signed a seven-store development deal with a franchisee for Atlantic Canada who is ready to get going, so you can expect to see a steady run of Edo Japan openings across the region over the next while,” she added.
Edo Japan Restaurants Ltd., #310, 6807 Railway St. SE, Calgary, Alberta T2H 2V6 (877/974-7234 www.edojapan.com) & (Janine Maginniss –Dir Real Estate – 647/884-3278 janine.m@edojapan.com)