Tokyo Den at 5118 S. Staples St. in Corpus Christi is one of three restaurants opening new locations after a hiatus, whether long (14 years) or short (a few months.) Courtesy photo
Three new businesses have reopened in Corpus Christi after having to close for a variety of reasons and lengths of time.
TOKYO DEN
Tokyo Den first opened in Corpus Christi 25 years ago, one of the first restaurants in the Coastal Bend to serve authentic sushi in an authentic setting. It closed in 2007 but is now back in business at 5118 S. Staples St. with a new take on Japanese-Korean fusion cuisine.
The restaurant is a family affair, returning to the same shopping center it first called home. Sharing ownership are Ting Thong Savanh and chef Richard Kim. Kim’s sister and the restaurant’s former owner, Jung Ro, manages the business.
The restaurant features speciality sushi rolls, chicken and pork katsu, yakisoba noodles, teriyaki entrees, bento boxes, and more.
SAL’S BRONX STYLE PIZZA
The owner of Bella Luna Downtown, Salvatore “Sal” Colicci, opened a new pizzeria at 4922 Yorktown Blvd. It gets its Bronx style from the double-decker stone brick oven and its Sicilian-style thick crust. Sal’s also features a deep dish pizza and a vegan option.
Colicci began his Corpus Christi cooking career in 2011 with a pizzeria in Flour Bluff. He left pizza behind to open Bella Luna Downtown. Ten years later, he is back in the pizza business, cooking authentic Bronx pizza featuring the much heralded marinara sauce from his downtown Italian restaurant.
Sal’s Bronx Style Pizza is made even more special by the addition of a melted blend of three cheeses and top-grade pepperoni, sausage, meatball, bacon, and always fresh garlic. The restaurant also serves pasta dishes, hot and cold sandwiches, stromboli, calzones, and fresh salads.
COOKIE + CRUMB BAKESHOP
Formerly Hamlin Bakery, Cookie and Crumb Bakeshop plans to reopen soon at a new location at 1220 Airline Road, Suite 140. Bakery owner Katie Nicholson’s family has owned Hamlin Fountain and Gifts since 1960. She ran the bakery inside. The enterprise shut down for a few months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nicholson is now setting up bakeshop in the Promenade Shopping Center with two employees and a dedication to scratch baking. In-store seating will not be available at first, but in-store purchases, curbside pickup, and delivery will be. The small-batch kitchen will cook speciality orders and will soon add a cake decorator.
