SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A beloved San Francisco sushi restaurant has closed its doors after nearly 40 years, according to a report from Mission Local.
We Be Sushi in San Francisco’s Mission District quietly closed on Feb. 13, as its owner, Andy Tonozuka, 76, decided to retire.
“I really appreciate all the customer support for a long time. I miss them all,” Tonozuka told Mission Local. “Many people enjoy the sushi, and it was my pleasure. I am proud of myself and leaving them — it’s kind of a sad feeling, but I’m done.”
Tonozuka was first introduced to making sushi through his sister, who recommended him to a restaurant — Hatsuhan — in Japan.
It was a competitive environment, but Tonozuka, who was just 19 years old at the time, excelled, serving clients such as the Prime Minister and Japanese movie stars, according to the We Be Sushi website.
Eight years later, Tonozuka moved to New York to work as a chef at a new Hatsuhana location. That location became critically acclaimed.
A year later, Tonozuka visited San Francisco for the first time and fell in love with the city, according to Mission Local.
By 1987, he had bought a restaurant and had plans to name it “McSushi.”But after a letter from McDonald’s threatening to sue, Tonozuka turned to communitymembers for suggestions.
We Be Sushi was selected from the list of suggestions, and the longtime San Francisco favorite was officially established just a few days later.
“A crisis turned fortunate circumstance: We Be Sushi became part of the Mission District community and found its place in the city,” according to We Be Sushi.
Read more from Mission Local.