Today we’d like to introduce you to An Crumpler.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all started with our love for soba (buckwheat noodle). Soba contain a variety of nutrients that are natural and healthy. It is high in protein essential for survival and growth & contains various types of amino acids such as lysine and arginine. These are essential building blocks for child development, growth and stamina. My partner and I used to go to New York to have freshly made soba once a month since there’s no good soba restaurant in Boston area. My partner is actually the one who introduce me to soba and it was her idea to open Sugidama. Sugidama means a ball made from sprigs of Japanese cedar, that the owners of breweries in Japan put out above the entrances of their establishments to announce that a new draw of sake is ready. My partner and our chefs were trained from the one and only soba master in the U.S. Shuichi Kotani who has 18 years of experience in making soba. Our base broth is bonito (smoked fish flakes) broth which give a smoky yet savory flavor. And for vegan broth we use kombu (dried kelp). Our soba is made of buckwheat, wheat flour & water which has no preservative.
We make our soba freshly everyday to ensure the quality. Besides soba, we also have Yakitori (Japanese BBQ on skewers) & a selection of sushi. Soba is actually not as easy to make as ramen. Soba has a simple, clean taste yet requires lots of patience & dedication. That is why you don’t see soba shop popping up everywhere like ramen. As of right now we are still the only one in Massachusetts that has freshly made soba noodle. Since opening we got a lot of support from the neighborhood. As mothers, we made sure that Sugidama is kid friendly so we are very popular among parents & kids.
Sugidama is actually owned by 3 women who are mothers & wives. We each has an important role in the operation, my partners who has more than 1o years’ experience in restaurant take care of the kitchen & sushi bar to ensure the food quality & consistency.
I myself was an accountant for many years take care of the front of the house include getting all the business licenses & customer service. We pay attention to little details of the business and ensure our guests satisfaction. We divide and conquer.
Has it been a smooth road?
Our shop is actually hidden in the back of the Davis Square plaza, so lots of people don’t know that we are open at the beginning and even now after more than a year. But we have been lucky with the words of mouth advertise and our yelp reviews that brings people over. As small business, we don’t have a large capital for marketing, so social media plays a big role in our success.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sugidama Soba & Izakaya story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in Soba (buckwheat noodle) & Yakitori (Japanese BBQ skewer). We are also known for fresh sushi. Owns by women & have a great diverse team to support us. We are the only freshly made soba restaurant in Massachusetts.
Contact Info:
- Address: 260 Elm Street Suite #106
Somerville, MA 02144 - Website: www.sugidamasoba.com
- Phone: 617-764-5770
- Email: info@sugidamasoba.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugidamasoba/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugidamasoba
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sugidamasoba
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sugidama-soba-and-izakaya-somerville-3
Image Credit:
eatsbyjlee
lobsboston
Michele J Martin
Janey Homechamp
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