SUMMER SHUTTERS

Iconic San Antonio sushi restaurant folds after 19 years

Godai Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant will shutter at the end of August.

Godai Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant/Facebook

One of the most respected names in San Antonio sushi is closing after 19 years in business. According to a Facebook announcement from chef and owner William "Goro" Pitchford, Godai Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant will shutter on August 31.

"I want to really thank everyone that has supported us for all the years, but it has come time to not say goodbye but see y'all soon again," Pitchford wrote, adding, "This year just took a toll on me mentally and physically."

Although some parts of the announcement were a bit ambiguous, he did call August 31 "the last day of service for dining."

Although Pitchford did not share further reasoning behind the decision, the closure wasn't wholly unexpected. In July, Godai Sushi Inc. filed for Chapter Seven bankruptcy, citing almost $346,000 in debt. Although that corporate entity was liquidated, the namesake restaurant was reincorporated under a separate limited liability company in May. At the time, Pitchford promised to keep the restaurant going.

Since learning the trade under Fujiya Japanese Garden chef Junko-San, Pitchford has been a staple of San Antonio's food scene. His career spans 35 years and includes previous restaurants, Teriyaki & More and Goro's Sushi. Godai Sushi launched in 2005 and has remained on of Alamo City's standard-bearers for Japanese cuisine.

According to Pitchford's statement, he will offer to-go specials in the future and is open to leasing his kitchen and restaurant. It's unclear whether he will reemerge in the scene. Pitchford says he is taking a week off to "clear [his] mind."

Godai's closing comes at a particularly tumultuous time for San Antonio's dining scene. Several iconic restaurants, including Acadiana Cafe, Botika, Fratello's Deli & Market, and Rio Rio Cantina, have shuttered in recent months.

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Better Days, Same Burgers

Shuttered San Antonio burger joint stages surprising comeback

Teddy B's/Facebook

Teddy B's has made a surprise comeback.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Teddy B's life. In October, the popular burger joint shuttered its decade-old location on Babcock Road, grieving a loss of foot traffic and rising costs. On November 20, the spot revealed a plot twist. The owners are now slinging patties at 9903 Fredericksburg Rd.

"Dear Teddy B's customers, we have good news," the restaurant posted on social media. "We are back in business...We are waiting for our new sign, but we are up and running."

The unexpected comeback is the culmination of a tumultuous year for the business. As the restaurant marked its 10-year milestone this summer, the outlook was much darker. On August 4, the restaurant took to social media to warn that closure could be imminent. A traffic decline affected Teddy B's ability to maintain its affordable price point.

The messaging worked, at least in the short term. Days later, the restaurant reported an increase in business. The marketing language was hopeful until October 13, when the restaurant abruptly announced it was closing for good.

The news of Teddy B's rebirth came just as suddenly. After a month-long social media silence, the restaurant announced it had taken over the former home of Burger Haven. The latter restaurant was little known, appearing to operate mainly as a ghost kitchen.

Assumably, burgers will be back on the menu, but it is unclear whether other favorites will be eliminated to streamline the operation. The business has not posted any revisions, and its website is down at press time.

The burger joint's comeback manifests as other shuttered legacy restaurants like The Lion and Rose and Fratello's have staged their own returns. While Teddy B's has offered no reasoning for getting back into the game, it is a testament to the resiliency of San Antonio's culinary community.

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