Is Kyoto closing? Not exactly
Following reports that the restaurant would close its doors at the end of the month, a deeper look reveals a more complex reality. The beloved institution is indeed ending its contract at the current location, but it remains alive and kicking. Here are the details.
After reports surfaced regarding the alleged closure of the veteran Kyoto restaurant, it turns out the reality is a bit more complex. The 27-year-old establishment, one of the pioneers of Japanese cuisine in Israel, is not closing its doors but simply changing locations.
Shimon Babu, the owner of Kyoto, says that for several months the restaurant has been negotiating with the Gav-Yam company, the owners of the building, regarding the renewal of the lease agreement. However, in recent days, Gav-Yam decided to build a new, luxurious lobby at the expense of part of the restaurant's space. This would have caused significant damage to the restaurant and forced a cessation of operations for the entire duration of the renovations.
Babu decided not to renew the contract. In a conversation with us, he summarized the situation as follows:
"They wanted to do a 7th of October to me, so I said thank you very much, it doesn't suit me."
Therefore, Kyoto will cease operations at its current location on August 27th, but this is not a final closure. Negotiations are currently underway for an alternative location, and we promise to follow up and provide updates.
