Japanese Izakaya Dining Concept Planned For Growing Downtown Clearwater District

CLEARWATER, FL — A new restaurant is planned for downtown Clearwater's Cleveland Street redevelopment corridor, where restaurateur Sheng Long Yu is preparing to open Hanami at 635 Cleveland Street.

The project places a modern Japanese izakaya on the 600 block, a stretch now seeing construction, restoration and new business activity, a news release from the Cleveland Street Alliance said.

Hanami will open directly next to the future $50 million EVO Family Entertainment Center. The restaurant site is described as sitting between the Pinellas Trail and the evolving Cleveland Street district, in what the announcement calls an emerging entertainment district.

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The redevelopment of 635 Cleveland Street is part of what the Cleveland Street Alliance described as a coordinated transformation of the 600 block.

The restaurant is designed as a modern Japanese izakaya, a social dining concept built around gathering, shared meals and evening activity.

The name Hanami refers to the Japanese tradition of gathering beneath blooming cherry blossoms, an idea that will shape the restaurant's atmosphere and overall experience, the news release said.

Plans call for a street-facing restaurant serving sushi, ramen and yakitori in downtown Clearwater.

“I’ve been looking for the right location to introduce a concept like Hanami, and what’s happening along Cleveland Street immediately stood out to me,” Long Yu said. “This district is evolving into something modern, energetic and experience-driven, and Hanami is designed to be part of that momentum. We want this to be a place where people come together, stay awhile and create memorable experiences through incredible food, atmosphere and hospitality.”

Yu has operated multiple restaurant concepts across the United States, including Japanese steakhouses, ramen restaurants and sushi concepts, and has more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry.

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