Oise Ushi, a scaled-down version of the sushi restaurant concept launched last year by chef Brad Kilgore and restaurateur Brad Cozza, opened in Cape Coral following a 2025 renovation.
The restaurant occupies the former Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer space at 1019 Cape Coral Parkway E., in Big John’s Plaza. It sits adjacent to Escondido Lounge and next door to Taco Works, both of which are also owned by Cozza. Downtown Fort Myers is home to another Escondido Lounge, located behind that city’s Taco Works.
Oise Ushi occupies the former Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer space at 1019 Cape Coral Parkway E., in Big John’s Plaza, following a $500,000 renovation completed in 2025.
David Dorsey
Cozza said he invested about $500,000 to renovate the Cape Coral space for the restaurant and adjoining bar.
Channel Mark Shell Construction of Cape Coral handled the project.
“This is baby Oise,” Cozza said. He opened the original Oise last year in downtown Fort Myers in the former Blu Sushi space. That restaurant blends Italian and Japanese cuisines in collaboration with Kilgore.
Brad Cozza, restaurateur and co-owner of Oise Ushi, opened the sushi-only concept in Cape Coral as a scaled-down offshoot of Oise Ristorante in downtown Fort Myers.
David Dorsey
With a smaller footprint in Cape Coral, Cozza and Kilgore decided to drop the Italian side of the menu and focus exclusively on Japanese offerings, branding the concept as Ushi.
“This is going to be a sushi-only concept,” Cozza said. “It’s going to be the Japanese portion of the menu. Oise Ristorante has a 50-50 balance of Italian and Japanese. This is going to be the Japanese side only.
“And we have enhanced it with Temaki rolls, and we’ve also added two sushi rolls.”
Although Kilgore is not a traditional sushi chef by training, Cozza said he quickly mastered the cuisine. Sushi rolls are priced between $17 and $19. The menu also includes yakitori skewers, appetizers and salads.
A Chicken Karrage temaki handroll at Oise Ushi is topped with Furikake candied bacon, butter pickle, Fresno chili and yuzu-truffle ranch. Sushi rolls at the restaurant are priced between $17 and $19.
David Dorsey
Cozza said the restaurant is unique in pairing sushi with a 1920s-style speakeasy atmosphere.
“This is a Brad Kilgore production,” Cozza said. “He was not in sushi, and I have to say, what makes the sushi different is it’s not just your traditional protein, soy, rice. It’s a fully composed entree. With all the sauces, it’s absolutely delicious.
“We’re very excited about this. There’s really no sushi establishment that you can enjoy in a speakeasy.”