Japanese Restaurant to Open At Former Noura Cafe Location

The former home of Noura Cafe on Durant Avenue will soon house a Japanese sushi restaurant, among other businesses.

The building has been home to businesses such as La Val's Pizza and Tower Records, but has remained empty and fenced off for about two years.

Jason Leung, a realtor with Commercial Lessors, the owner of the building, said the upstairs space will house a few other restaurants or retail spaces in addition to Sushi Minami, a Japanese restaurant, that will move into the lower level.

The property owners split up the space so it can house multiple businesses rather than just one, said Dave Fogarty, the city's economic development coordinator.

The restaurant, which has applied for an alcohol license, has already begun to refurbish the space and is slated to open in April.

Leung said Sushi Minami will be a sit-down restaurant and the owners are looking to host live music acts in the future.

Local Japanese restaurants say they are not happy with the increased competition that the new restaurant will bring.

Harold Kim, who took over Berkeley Sushi House on Durant only a month ago, said he is worried about the new Japanese restaurant opening up across the street.

"They (will) hurt my business, they will cut my business because of the competition," Kim said.

The market for Japanese food in Berkeley is already relatively small, Kim said.

He said he believes the new restaurant will be driven out of business within three years because of "too much overhead" with its rent and servicing staff.

However, Leung said the owners, who have experience in the restaurant industry, say they are optimistic about succeeding in Berkeley.

"(The) family (who owns the restaurant) moved up here to start something new because they have been successful with their restaurants down south," he said. "They think they can run a successful Japanese restaurant here."

Tags: NOURA'S CAFE, DURANT AVENUE