Sushi2Go, the longtime takeout sushi counter near the Ballston Metro station, has closed its doors at 901 N. Stuart St. and is being rebranded as WasaB, according to signs posted on the windows. The restaurant is currently undergoing renovations as it prepares for its next chapter under new ownership.
Sung Lee, who took over the restaurant, is cleaning and renovating the space while he waits on a permit from the county, according to ARLnow. Lee declined to provide further comment on the transition, leaving several details about the new concept unresolved for now.
A liquor license for WasaB was issued on Oct. 13, according to the outlet's reporting. The timeline for an opening date has not been disclosed.
What WasaB's Menu Might Look Like
WasaB's online ordering platform currently shows a variety of sushi rolls, vegetable rolls, nigiri and sashimi, as well as hot noodles, mirroring the kind of offerings longtime Ballston diners would recognize.
That lingering uncertainty leaves open the question of just how much will carry over from the old concept to the new one, beyond the name and the storefront itself.
A Ballston Fixture Since 2015
Sushi2Go first opened near the Ballston Metro station in 2015, drawing inspiration from a takeout sushi chain called Wasabi. The restaurant replaced Primo Fresh Deli, which had sold smoothies and sandwiches in the same spot.
At the time of its 2015 debut, the restaurant — then styled Sushi 2Go — occupied the former Primo Fresh Deli space in the Metro plaza at the corner of Fairfax Drive and N. Stuart Street, according to ARLnow's original coverage of the opening. Its menu then included nigiri, classic sushi rolls, and a range of specialty rolls, and owner Unsook Kim said she got the idea for the to-go concept after visiting a Wasabi franchise in New York City.
More than a decade later, the storefront is changing hands again, with Lee now steering the renovation and permit process toward WasaB's eventual debut. For now, Ballston residents passing the Metro plaza will see a shuttered dining room, signs posted on the windows, and a liquor license on file — but no firm word yet on when the doors will reopen or what, exactly, will be on the menu.
