Nearby Future Grocery Gets 'Top Chef' Sushi Whiz

A nearby, yet-to-open full-service grocery store is teaming up with an award-winning restaurateur to offer quality, made-to-order sushi.

Representatives from Plum Market—an Old Town store opening this summer to sell natural, organic, local and specialty items—recently announced their partnership with Chef Takashi Yagihashi, who will oversee the grocery's sushi station.

A nationally known culinary master, Yagihashi began serving up dishes in Japan before coming to Chicago, then leaving for Detroit and Las Vegas, ultimately to return to the Windy City. He's most locally known as the mastermind behind Bucktown’s Takashi and River North’s Slurping Turtle.

Plum Market is set to open at 1233 N. Wells St. in Old Town this coming June, owners said. The 27,000-square-foot space will feature an area showcasing "Plum Kitchen's" eat-in and carryout food creations.

Coined "Tabo Sushi by Takashi", Yagihashi's venture will include made-to-order "restaurant-caliber" cuisine and a variety of sushi rolls and maki, a spokeswoman for the restaurant said last week.

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"We're very excited to begin working with Plum Market ... upon their opening this June," said Yagihashi, who was given the name "Tabo"—meaning "turbo-charged" as a child. "Our house-made sushi will be the perfect choice for locals looking for high-quality, natural and organic offerings in their neighborhood."

Yagihashi has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation as well as Gourmet, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit and Esquire. He's also a three-time Michelin star recipient and was a competitor on the Bravo network's Top Chef Masters. 

Plum Market is a privately owned, Michigan-based company that was acquired by Whole Foods in 1998.

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