By Kim Anderson
NEW CITY, NY — Kobe Sushi, a longtime favorite in New City NY, celebrated a vibrant grand reopening today, unveiling its newly expanded space, complete with a jazz ensemble, second bar area, buffet – and renewed mission to serve the community, hospitality, exceptional cuisine and now – live music.
Longtime owners and operators along with their dedicated team, hosted a three-hour celebration for platinum members and select ticket holders, complete with a lavish sushi buffet and live jazz trio. Town Supervisor Hoehmann and members of his staff were in attendance, as well as many locals from New City and surrounding areas.
The restaurant’s interior has doubled in capacity, now seating approximately 80 guests, and features a sleek new bar in the rear of the restaurant – as well as a stage for regular live music performances, toward the front of the restaurant. But beyond the physical transformation, the event honored a deeper story — one of resilience and community spirit forged through the challenges of several yearsof pandemic-induced retail evolutions.
Five Years of Restaurant Resillience
“And then on March 18, 2020, COVID shut everything down,” one guest speaker recalled. Yet, Joyce – one of the owners of Kobe Sushi, and the rest of the team, adapted. They pivoted to a robust takeout model, built new dining structure to maintain operations safely, and ensured that their loyal patrons — many of whom have dined at Kobe for over a decade — continued to enjoy their favorite meals.
“Kobe is the new Cheers, where everyone knows your name,” said another guest, a sentiment echoed throughout the room. “We started at the bar (pointing to the original Kobe bar in the front of the restaurant, still there). We made lifelong friends here.”
The celebration included a recognition of those who helped make the expansion a reality. Joyce thanked:
- Chris Raffa of Raffa Plumbing and Heating
- Bob Rowe of Housecraft Construction
- EZ Electric
- Sam, one of Kobe’s best friends and a key helper in the process
- Jeff Gillies from the Town of Clarkstown
- The landlord for the complex
- Patagonia
- Architect Lee Zanaro
A Grand Opening with Gratitude
Supervisor George Hoehmann, who visited ahead of an official ribbon cutting scheduled for Tuesday, offered his remarks:
“You know, this is a wonderful restaurant. It’s really the heart of New City, and it’s been great to watch Joyce build this business. It’s a destination for so many residents — including my own family — and even those from outside Clarkstown. I just wanted to stop by and wish her well.”
Jeff Gillies, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator for Clarkstown, also shared his admiration: “The best part of my job is helping great people succeed. Supporting Joyce through the challenges of COVID and now this expansion has been an honor.”
The Kobe owners also took time to thank the staff, the chefs, the waitresses and bartenders – to the applause of the capacity guests – many longtime platinum members of the restaurant. Which was one way that Kobe was able to adapt, by offering online incentives from their Kobe Sushi online ordering app.
“And finally, all of you — our Kobe family,” they added. “It’s your support that brought us here today. We’re celebrating not just a reopening, but a new beginning.”
Kobe Sushi has also launched a new slate of programming, including live music on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a warm, community-focused ambiance that patrons can look forward to weekly. “When you come to Kobe, you become our family,” Joyce said.
As guests mingled over sushi, sake and jazz, it was clear the reopening of Kobe Sushi wasn’t just a return — it was a transformation.