Simple Venue opens $250K Sushi by Bou at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel
With a $250,000 investment in a cozy 400-square-foot space at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, Sushi by Bou, the 17th location under the hospitality and gastronomy company SimpleVenue, has opened.
Michael Sinensky, the owner, ventured into Puerto Rico with nightlife entertainment entrepreneur Shimmy McHugh, owner of Brava Nightclub in the same hotel, and Puerto Rican events producer Paco López, president of No Limit Entertainment.
The new omakase-style Asian restaurant, Sushi by Bou, which took 18 months to develop, has generated 10 permanent jobs. It introduces an experiential dining concept, offering an intimate setting for just 10 diners to ensure a 2:1 customer-to-staff ratio and boasting an average revenue per square foot of $2,500.
Each dining session is a 75-minute timed experience, likened by the owner to a theater show.
Based in New York City and co-founded by Sinensky and Erika London with partner and hospitality director Richie Romero, SimpleVenue specializes in creating micro-restaurants in underutilized spaces.
The Fairmont El San Juan Hotel venue previously housed an art gallery and a jewelry store.
“My family and I recently moved to Puerto Rico for my supply chain consulting company under Act 60. But my passion has always been in the hospitality industry. I hope this will be the first of many non-Act 60 businesses,” Sinensky said.
“As a serial entrepreneur, I take pride in opening new small businesses and in turn trying to help the economic growth of my surroundings as well as attempt to push others in our industry to elevate their offerings to those craving affordable but still luxurious food and beverage experiences,” he added.
“We’re looking forward to immersing ourselves in the island’s culture and giving back as much as possible to the enchanted Puerto Rico, a community that has warmly welcomed us,” he concluded.
Sushi by Bou has locations in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Philadelphia and Florida, with plans to expand to Washington, D.C. SimpleVenue also operates other sushi restaurants, each offering unique dining experiences.
