After 51 years in Little Tokyo, Suehiro Cafe is facing eviction, the latest in a string of legacy businesses forced out of the historic Japanese neighborhood.
Landlord Anthony Sperl filed the eviction notice last month. He’s hoping the area will grow to resemble Melrose Avenue, according to Suehiro Cafe’s owner, Kenji Suzuki.
Dennis Block, Sperl’s attorney, said Suehiro is being evicted for nonpayment of rent. But Suehiro’s attorney, Clifford Jung, said Suehiro has consistently tried to pay rent, but over the last year, the checks that it has sent by mail have not been cashed. Advertisement
In-state business license records show Sperl as a partner in a limited liability corporation called Tokyo Greens registered in 2018, and he’s been seen gathering support at community meetings for a cannabis business in the area.
Suzuki plans to move the restaurant to a Main Street location a few blocks away and hopes to open the new space by June if all goes well. But heritage businesses in ethnic neighborhoods facing the same quandary around Los Angeles are not all so lucky.
canyonero__
Can’t imagine anyone in their right mind would want Little Tokyo to resemble Melrose. What an awful vision for the area.
seanffy
Man hope suehiro will bounce back, I first went there about 20 years ago 🥲. Is the greedy owner really going to turn it into a dispensary ? Talk about greed. 🤡
huelealluvia
Terrible, awful news. Suehiro is an institution
pixelastronaut
This is soooo LA… short sighted, superficial stinginess
JackfruitCurry
Gross. We need places like suehiro.
We don’t need bougie restaurants that lose the Little Tokyo flavor.
Here comes the 15% service fee, 5% health benefits, and 5% kitchen staff fee. Oh but it’s not a tip so another 20%… all for a “$20” vegetable plate if it’s trying to be like melrose.
BruceLeeIsTheHomie
There is enough cannabis stores already. A cannabis store does not add anything to the Little Tokyo neighborhood.
That Hayashi Rice with Egg is my favorite dish at Suehiro.
tote-bags
Suehiro was a staple for downtown takeout lunches and late night comfort food from my time there in the 2010s.
bensterrrrr
don’t appreciate the headline making it seem like the fault of rail development when it’s really that scumbag landlord
_its_a_SWEATER_
Fuck that landlord and his goofy ass “vision”.
pumpkinspicerabbit
Suehiro is my favorite downtown lunch. I primarily work remotely now, but when I do need to go to the office, I always love a Suehiro lunch special.
numbrrr9
I first ate there early 1980s and it’s one of the few places I could go to that has not changed much, to my delight. Will have to make visit again soon to experience one last time. And then support the new location.
Good_Distribution_92
They should Sue…to be a hiro 🫣
Sorry
sunsuncakecake
NOOOOO.
I have the warmest memories of Suehiro. I love this place.
At least they’re moving and not closing, but this location and this street means so much historically.
BancyCoco
NOOOOOOOO
mbmgart
We were just there the other night and they were packed. I am gonna miss it so much if the eviction goes through 🙁
mbmgart
For the record, Melrose isn’t all sunshine and roses. Who would want that for Little Tokyo? This developer is unsound.
usagiSuteishi
First curry house and now this wtf
meepmeep_sheep
Sad news as Suehiro is and institution in that location. But, I am glad they they will not be gone forever and are able to move! I love the late night eats there, especially the house special and chazuke!
thebadsleepwell00
Can we start a petition or is there someone to call?
supercaptaincrunch
Incredibly heartbreaking news. Suehiro is an institution and part of the heart of Little Tokyo. It makes me even more angry that it’s a non-minority owner trying to push out a small minority owned business. How can the landlord even legally do this when Suehiro has been actively sending the rent?? Insane.
21 Comments
After 51 years in Little Tokyo, Suehiro Cafe is facing eviction, the latest in a string of legacy businesses forced out of the historic Japanese neighborhood.
Landlord Anthony Sperl filed the eviction notice last month. He’s hoping the area will grow to resemble Melrose Avenue, according to Suehiro Cafe’s owner, Kenji Suzuki.
Dennis Block, Sperl’s attorney, said Suehiro is being evicted for nonpayment of rent. But Suehiro’s attorney, Clifford Jung, said Suehiro has consistently tried to pay rent, but over the last year, the checks that it has sent by mail have not been cashed.
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In-state business license records show Sperl as a partner in a limited liability corporation called Tokyo Greens registered in 2018, and he’s been seen gathering support at community meetings for a cannabis business in the area.
Suzuki plans to move the restaurant to a Main Street location a few blocks away and hopes to open the new space by June if all goes well. But heritage businesses in ethnic neighborhoods facing the same quandary around Los Angeles are not all so lucky.
Can’t imagine anyone in their right mind would want Little Tokyo to resemble Melrose. What an awful vision for the area.
Man hope suehiro will bounce back, I first went there about 20 years ago 🥲. Is the greedy owner really going to turn it into a dispensary ? Talk about greed. 🤡
Terrible, awful news. Suehiro is an institution
This is soooo LA… short sighted, superficial stinginess
Gross. We need places like suehiro.
We don’t need bougie restaurants that lose the Little Tokyo flavor.
Here comes the 15% service fee, 5% health benefits, and 5% kitchen staff fee. Oh but it’s not a tip so another 20%… all for a “$20” vegetable plate if it’s trying to be like melrose.
There is enough cannabis stores already. A cannabis store does not add anything to the Little Tokyo neighborhood.
That Hayashi Rice with Egg is my favorite dish at Suehiro.
Suehiro was a staple for downtown takeout lunches and late night comfort food from my time there in the 2010s.
don’t appreciate the headline making it seem like the fault of rail development when it’s really that scumbag landlord
Fuck that landlord and his goofy ass “vision”.
Suehiro is my favorite downtown lunch. I primarily work remotely now, but when I do need to go to the office, I always love a Suehiro lunch special.
I first ate there early 1980s and it’s one of the few places I could go to that has not changed much, to my delight. Will have to make visit again soon to experience one last time. And then support the new location.
They should Sue…to be a hiro 🫣
Sorry
NOOOOO.
I have the warmest memories of Suehiro. I love this place.
At least they’re moving and not closing, but this location and this street means so much historically.
NOOOOOOOO
We were just there the other night and they were packed. I am gonna miss it so much if the eviction goes through 🙁
For the record, Melrose isn’t all sunshine and roses. Who would want that for Little Tokyo? This developer is unsound.
First curry house and now this wtf
Sad news as Suehiro is and institution in that location. But, I am glad they they will not be gone forever and are able to move! I love the late night eats there, especially the house special and chazuke!
Can we start a petition or is there someone to call?
Incredibly heartbreaking news. Suehiro is an institution and part of the heart of Little Tokyo. It makes me even more angry that it’s a non-minority owner trying to push out a small minority owned business. How can the landlord even legally do this when Suehiro has been actively sending the rent?? Insane.