Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

Yan

Other restaurants may be feeling the pinch from rising food prices, increasing utilities and soaring inflation, but the one-year-old Little Tokyo - an Asian-food restaurant which first opened in Sovereign Centre's food court in Liguanea, St Andrew - from the looks of it, appears not to be affected as its owner hunts for suitable spots to spread his operation across Kingston.

The Asian cuisine restaurant operated by Phillip Yan has opened another outlet at the popular 7th Avenue Plaza located on the busy Cons-tant Spring Road, St Andrew corridor, a venue that was formerly occupied by the Kenny Rogers Roasters fast-food outlet. The new location is over 1,600 square feet. Combined, the two restaurants employ approximately 30 persons. At Seventh Avenue, patrons have the option to dine, as well as take out.

Little Tokyo in 7th Avenue Plaza, St Andrew. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

larger space

Yan said he simply needed a larger space where he could dish out more of his Asian-flair food creations, which seem to be doing well. Little Tokyo offers a fun mix of Japanese and other Asian cuisine.

Although not willing to divulge specifics, Yan said the start-up cost for the business, which opened in late 2006, but officially began operation in early 2007, was in the six-figure US-dollar range, suggesting he invested at least over US$100,000 (J$7 million) to launch the business.

Yan shied away from specifying his target market, but said he hoped to capture a portion of the fast-food munchers who frequent popular outlets such as Burger King and Island Grill.

"We are new. We are trying to do what we do best," Yan told Sunday Business.

Little Tokyo is expanding at a time when its counterparts in the fast-food business report depressed sales - estimated at about 10 per cent - due to the downturn in the economy. To survive, they have been forced to come up with creative value-meal options that would appeal to a consuming public whose spending power is being diminished as the months pass.

Yan said the strategy going forward was to model his operation off international franchises, and possibly invite joint ventures or diversify ownership. While not immediate, Yan said he was keeping an eye out for the right locations for further expansion in Jamaica and to the wider Caribbean, based on the growth of business.

susan.gordon@gleanerjm.com.