Decades of hard work and focus are paying off for one Delmar restaurateur.
After attending business school at the University of Albany and spending more than 30 years in the food service industry, Frank Lee, owner of the Shogun Sushi and Sake Bar in Delmar, opened a second location in Albany on Tuesday, March 27.
“We were pretty successful in Delmar and our concept seemed to be working, so after that it was all about finding the right location,” said Lee.
Lee, 53, said he worked in restaurants throughout college and had several Chinese take-out places in the 1980s. He later spent 13 years managing the local TGI Friday’s in Albany and then a local 99 Restaurants location.
Lee saved up his money and opened the first Shogun opened on Delaware Avenue in Delmar nearly three years ago in the Main Square Plaza. He said his goal was to open an eatery with local charm that served “exquisite Asian cuisine” prepared by regional chefs.
“I think I liked staying in the business because I like the interaction with people,” said Lee, explaining his family didn’t really have an influence over his career choice. “It’s consistently been something I’ve always liked to do.”
Lee said he spent about a year and a half looking for the right location to open a second restaurant. When he saw the Albany Art Room at 457 Madison Ave. was for sale, he knew the Lark Street area was the right fit for his business.
Six months and $300,000 later, the art room was transformed and Shogun Sushi and Sake Bar in Albany opened. Lee said he liked the location because it’s rare to find a building with its own parking in downtown Albany and he liked the New York City feel of the Lark Street area.
Manager Bill Lai said he feels there was a need for a sushi restaurant in that area of Albany.
“People will find the service and the food consistent for those who used to make the trek to the other location, but even with Delmar being so close to Albany there seems to be an invisible wall where people forget about those locations,” he said. “This new location will help.”
The Albany Shogun has a full liquor license and seats 72. Lai said he thinks customers will like the contemporary feel of the new location.
Regional artist Tommy Watkins was brought in to design the interior of the restaurant. After giving the first location a more traditional feel, Lee said he asked Watkins for a modern design at the newest Shogun.
“I think the demographic here demands it,” Lee said. “We really paid attention to details and it’s very suitable for a Lark Street location.”
The designing took six weeks and all of the art inside was either painted or crafted by Watkins.
Lai said he thinks customers will appreciate the presentation and he was surprised how busy the restaurant was after only being open for one week. “I think it shows what a huge following we had coming from the Delmar store,” he said.
Lee said for now he is unsure if we will continue to expand in the future.
“It’s too early to tell. Right now, all of our energy is going to the second one,” he said
