EMERSON, N.J.—Sendai Japanese Restaurant and Grill, established here in 2009, announced on its website that it’s leaving Emerson for River Edge.
The restaurant was one venture of many that lost its home after the borough partnered with redevelopers on an ambitious mixed-use project called Emerson Station, which is erecting 147 apartments on Kinderkamack Road, along with nearly 15,000 square feet of retail space.
Demolition on Block 419, where the business operated, started in December 2019, with Mayor Danielle DiPaola posting Dec. 18, “Today 214 Kinderkamack Road will come down. The old Casa Hoffbrau, Vanno’s, Arthur’s, Gregory T’s, Ranchero Cantino, Cinar. Thanks for the memories. You served us well.”
The fate of popular Cork & Keg liquor store is unknown, with the borough compelled in December to condemn the store’s lease under terms of the redevelopment agreement.
Owner Dominick Scala has said neither the redeveloper nor the borough had done enough to help it relocate.
DiPaola has been pulling for mediation or arbitration and emphasized to Pascack Press that this redevelopment project and its contracts, signed by her predecessor, are out of her control.
Sendai closed Jan. 31. On Feb. 9 it said it was moving to 651 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge. A grand opening as Sendai Sushi & Korean BBQ, under its current ownership, is anticipated for mid-April.
