Sushi restaurant set to open in former Panera space

A pair of Twin Cities restaurateurs are moving forward with plans for a new sushi restaurant in Rochester.

Kumo Sushi is set to open in mid-May in the former Panera spot at 460 Crossroads Drive Southwest. The Japanese-style menu will offer over 100 items, from seafood and grilled meats to salads and ramen dishes.

There will be an all-you-can-eat option, plus dinner entrees and à la carte items. All food will be cooked to order and served fresh.

Realtor Yu Jie Chen said her clients, Jackie Lu and Kun Lin, chose Rochester for their latest restaurant concept because of the "vibrant community developing here" as part of Mayo Clinic's expansion plans.

The 4,500-square-foot space was recently left empty after Panera opened a drive-through location a couple miles south. Chen said Kumo Sushi will offer a "quiet, comfortable ambiance." The space can hold up to 200 people.

To start off, the restaurant plans to hire a staff of about 15.

Cover photo: Stock / Creative Commons