News broke last summer that Rock N’ Roll Sushi had signed a franchising deal that will bring 25 stores to Colorado, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. Things are moving along here in Las Vegas, with the American sushi chain’s first Sin City location is set to open before the end of this year, at 6435 S. Durango Drive, Suite 130.
“Chris approached me and told me everything about Rock N’ Roll Sushi,” Zarko, the franchisee/developer for Nevada, told What Now on Thursday, referring to Rock N’ Roll Sushi CEO Chris Kramolis.
Zarko is a longtime Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and is involved in other industries as well, including insurance and real estate. He’s opening Las Vegas locations with his business parter, Magdalena, with whom he helms the new Icon Restaurant Group.
“My team is one of the best franchisees since the beginning of Tropical Smoothie, and after we went to Arkansas [to learn about the concept], we decided to do it.”
The Americanized sushi chain offers a sushi menu featuring a wide variety of sushi rolls bound to be welcoming even to guests intimidated by raw fish, along with a selection of Hibachi dishes. Vegas’s first Rock N’ Roll location, however, will come with a Vegas-specific twist, Zarko says.
“It’s going to be like Rock N’ Roll Sushi and a sake and whiskey lounge,” said the franchisee. “It’s 2800 to 2900 square feet with a huge patio, and we’re going to do some exciting things after 10 for twenty-one and up. During the day it will be a great restaurant and bar, but after that it will also be a place to hang out instead of on the Strip.”
Much of the location-specific menu has yet to be developed, but Zarko says we can expect a new Rock N’ Roll brand sake produced in Arkansas.
And what does the future hold for Rock N’ Roll Sushi in Las Vegas? asked What Now.
4 or 5 of these specialized, nightlife-facing Rock N’ Roll Sushi locations are planned for the city, Zarko says, along with many more express/neighborhood locations. Of these latter, twenty or so can be expected.
That’s a huge undertaking! Follow @rocknrollsushiofficial on Instagram and stay tuned.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed the address of the first Las Vegas Rock N’ Roll Sushi as 116 Las Vegas Blvd N. The correct address is 6435 S. Durango Drive, Suite 130.
