Sushi-Rama's Last Remaining Location in RiNo Closing April 12

Jeff Osaka has long been one of Denver's top restaurateurs. But on April 12, he'll close his last remaining restaurant, the first Sushi-Rama.

Osaka worked in restaurants for years before moving to Denver in 2008 and opening his first eatery, the original Twelve, which closed in 2014. Two years later, he reopened the concept in a new location as 12 @ Madison, a venture that didn't return after the 2020 COVID indoor dining shutdown.

By then, he'd already debuted Osaka Ramen, which closed last month after ten years in RiNo. Its space is set to become Bear Leek, the first restaurant from industry pros Harrison Porter and Rema Maaliki.

in 2015, the same year he opened Osaka Ramen, the chef launched Sushi-Rama, the city's first conveyor belt sushi spot, at 2615 Larimer Street. At the time, his goal was to expand the concept in Colorado and beyond. And expand it did, to a total of five outposts in the metro area.

But in February 2024, Osaka made the call to close all but the original in RiNo. Now he says he's considering his next culinary move as he prepares for Sushi-Rama's last spin.
According to an announcement of the news: "The restaurant's closure reflects the harsh realities confronting Denver's independent restaurant scene," including rising food costs and operational costs as well as "complex labor regulations."

"When we first opened Sushi-Rama, the RiNo neighborhood was just beginning to find its place in the city as a dining destination," Osaka says. "We took a risk with a fresh approach to sushi — inviting diners to experience Japanese cuisine through a playful, accessible lens. To the community that gathered around our conveyor belt, shared countless meals, and embraced our vision: thank you. To the staff made that vision come to life: we couldn't have done it without you."

The closure will leave just one, unrelated conveyor-belt sushi spot in Denver: Chubby Cattle at 2 Broadway. It's an offshoot of a Vegas-born chain that came to Denver in 2018 with a focus on hot pot before pivoting to sushi.