Daniel Dokko—owner of both JPan Sushi & Grill locations on Siesta Drive and at University Town Center and Korê Steakhouse in Waterside Place—is opening a fourth restaurant. Kuro Sushi will be located on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street, and Dokko plans to open by the end of September.

He and his team gutted the restaurant space to the studs for a massive redesign in partnership with David Morrison of Sarasota architecture firm Two Architects. “Every wall, the floors, even the ceiling, are brand new,” Dokko says. 

Dokko diligently designed each aspect of the Kuro Sushi menu, which will offer small plates and grilled skewers alongside sushi rolls, plus a full liquor bar specializing in Japanese whisky. The 120-seat restaurant’s logo was inspired by Dokko’s first knife, a Masamoto from Japan, which he bought when he was first starting out as a sushi chef.

“I started working in a restaurant when I was 19 years old,” he says. “I started as a dishwasher, then moved into other kitchen roles, and finally management. I opened the first JPan when I was 24. I never expected I would have four restaurants. It feels like a dream.”

He says that Kuro Sushi will be different than JPan, despite both being sushi joints. Where each JPan features larger entrées like teriyaki, shrimp tempura and rice bowls, Kuro will focus solely on small plates, which are intended to be shared. Dokko is particularly excited about offering a selection of robata (skewers cooked over open embers). The restaurant will also feature omakase, available only by reservation at its six-seat sushi bar.

“I could never have done all of this without support from our staff and loyal customers. I still have customers from 17 years ago when I opened the first JPan on Siesta Drive," Dokko says. "I’m very fortunate to have so many good people around me."

Kuro Sushi will open in late September at 8126 Main Street, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, click here.