Sushi chain Fusian closes COVID-era Dublin, Westerville locations

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A fast-casual sushi restaurant has abruptly shuttered two central Ohio locations that opened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fusian's Westerville eatery at 79 S. State St. and the Dublin location at 7721 Sawmill Rd. permanently closed earlier this month, according to the chain's site. Each eatery had opened about four years ago, both taking over spaces previously home to Pizza Cucinova locations that closed during the pandemic.

"Hey Westerville, we loved serving you on State St. We're sorry we didn't stay longer, but we look forward to seeing you at one of our other Columbus restaurants soon," the site states.

The chain confirmed Fusian's other central Ohio restaurants in Clintonville, Grandview Heights and at Easton will remain open. In a statement, Fusian CFO Eric Rosenberg said the chain is "confident that closing these two COVID-era stores will only serve to improve our existing locations performance."

"As the world has recovered from the pandemic, we've recognized that our existing three stores are uniquely positioned to serve a large footprint of our core customers thru in-store, order-ahead and delivery services," Rosenberg said.

Fusian opened its first location in downtown Cincinnati in 2010, then known as "SohoSushi." Since then, the company has rebranded and also operates three eateries in Cincinnati, three in Dayton, and one in Toledo.

The chain boasts a build-your-own sushi roll menu, alongside a selection of classic 10-piece sushi rolls, poke and rice bowls, and salads. Central Ohio's three remaining locations are open daily from 10:40 a.m. to 10:05 p.m.