Sushi Garden, a popular Korean American-owned Japanese restaurant in Capitola, California, was completely destroyed in a fire, but the owners are now preparing for a full rebuild with help from loyal customers.
According to the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County, the fire broke out around 3 a.m. on July 28 at Sushi Garden, located near Capitola Avenue. When fire crews arrived, the building had already sustained extensive damage, with part of the roof collapsed.
The fire started on the first floor and quickly spread to the second floor, engulfing the entire 6,100-square-foot structure. Multiple agencies—including fire departments from Capitola, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Ben Lomond—responded to the scene. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
In a statement on its website, Sushi Garden wrote, “We are heartbroken over the fire and will be temporarily closed as we begin the recovery process.”
The Capitola location of Sushi Garden has been run by Bryant Wee, a Korean American, since 2009. The business operates three locations across Central California—in Capitola, Watsonville, and Aptos—all owned and managed by members of the Wee family.
In an interview on August 1, Wee told The Korea Daily, “The situation is bleak, but I have great affection for the restaurant. I’m working closely with construction companies every day to move the recovery forward.” He added that full-scale reconstruction is expected to begin within a month.
Wee also expressed gratitude to customers who frequently visited the Capitola branch and are now placing large group orders at the other locations. “Thanks to their support, we’re hanging in there. We estimate it will take about a year to reopen,” he said.
BY YEONGCHAE SONG [song.yeongchae@koreadaily.com]
