What Now Orlando reported in 2021 here that Susuru Juju would open at the former pizza hut location near Fashion Square Mall at 700 Maguire Boulevard in February. However, due to some permit issues and construction delays, the restaurant is now set to open in August.
Lewis Lin, also the owner of Susuru on Palm Parkway, Jade Sushi, and New Asian, transformed the former Pizza Hut into a Shōwa-style Japanese restaurant.
The restaurant will feature a six-seat chef’s table kappo or traditional Japanese cooking experience, as well as table service. Lin will offer more formal dishes selected by the chef, with casual izakaya-style (a variety of small, inexpensive dishes served to accompany the alcoholic drinks).
The original Susuru on Palm Parkway is adorned with Shōwa-era memorabilia. The Shōwa era, 1926-89, is when the first Godzilla film was to begin the Showa era and strongly reflects tremendous influences from Western countries. The restaurant is inspired by Tachinomi or Japanese standing bars (“tachi” meaning stand, “nomi” meaning drink), an inexpensive type of bar located around train stations or in working-class areas.
