What is the mission of your restaurant?

Put simply, to introduce Americans to authentic and traditional sushi for a reasonable price. I wanted to spread the traditional method of Omakase, a chef’s choice method using the best available ingredients of the day. At Shumi, not only do you get to taste the final result, but you get to see the full process, hear stories from the staff, and smell the food as it is prepared. Most of all, I wanted to educate the people in my community about Omakase and help them try something new.

If there was one thing you could tell everyone about your restaurant, what would it be?

I would tell everyone about the Omakase method. Omakase is a Japanese word that translates to “I will leave it up to you.” The method highlights a fresh catch of fish utilized to create a chef’s choice roll.

What is the most exciting dish you offer?  

The most exciting dish we offer is the Omakase special. This comes with 4 courses of appetizers, such as our fatty tuna crispy rice or tempura appetizer, and 21 pieces of Chef’s selection sushi for the day. This special offers our guests an authentic and delicious experience. 

What was your inspiration for opening your restaurant?

It started when I was in college at Parsons School of Design for interior design. While I was in school there, I worked at Sushi Samba as a part-time employee. I loved the energy and the feeling of the restaurant and realized I wanted to create something with that energy of my own. After completing school, I returned to Sushi Samba and worked full-time to learn all about sushi and its creation. My experience there inspired me to move forward with creating my own restaurant and embracing the traditional methods of making sushi.

Why did you choose Leonia?

I went to Leonia High School during my freshman year, though I moved out of the town afterward. During the time I spent in Leonia, I realized the great potential of the town. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the town and loved the people I met. So, despite the years in between, I decided to come back to Leonia and open another restaurant here, hoping to become a part of the town’s culture.

What goals do you have for your restaurant?

When I first opened in Ridgewood, I wanted to expand and open multiple locations so I can continue to educate people about true and authentic Japanese cuisine. Before I retire I would like to open at least 10 locations. I started this goal when I opened my second location outside of Dallas, about a year after opening in Ridgewood.

What has helped you get to where you are today?

Between Ridgewood, Dallas, and Leonia, teamwork has made it all work. I can’t run all these locations by myself, and I need a staff I can trust to operate the restaurants. All the hard work of my staff has allowed me to reach where I am today. This extends not only to those working in my restaurants, but to businesses like Soyu Architecture and Libro Plumbing who have helped me so much. It all comes together with staff, management, and trainees working together as a team.

Socials

Website: ShumiOmakase.com                       Instagram: @shumi.omakase

This interview was conducted with David Shumi, owner of Shumi Japanese Cuisine.

How long have you been in this small business industry? 

I became a Doctor of Chiropractic in 1992 and opened Pico Family Chiropractic NY in 1995.

What is the mission of your business?

Our mission has always been to provide gentle, compassionate, and results-oriented spinal health care to families with the goal of making a positive, healthy impact on the communities we serve.

If there was one thing you could tell everyone about your business, what would it be?

We continue to strive for excellence by constantly learning and growing with the expanding knowledge available to care for patients. We pride ourselves on making lasting relationships with our patients through the care we provide and the genuine commitment we have to their well-being.

What are some challenges that your business has had to face?

Practicing in NYC we have been thru 9-11, hurricane Sandy and Covid-19. These periods of intense stress played out in our office, putting us on the front lines and putting acute stress on our practice. In retrospect, we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the recovery from these events and serve our community when it most needs care.

What do you enjoy about being a local business in Leonia?

I am very much looking forward to becoming a part of the Leonia community. Our office is always doing events and fundraisers we love to create positive awareness and give back to the community. Coming into Leonia makes perfect sense for me I have lived my whole life in Bergen County. Being able to connect and establish relationships is what I am most excited about.

What methods do you use to promote your business?

Our office has always been busy and successful because our primary focus is on helping patients get well. Happy and healthy patients love to refer their friends and families to our office for care because of their positive experiences. You can also find us on our website is https://www.drpico.com/ or on Instagram at @picofamilychiropractic!

This interview was conducted with Dr. David Pico; Owner of the Pico Family Chiropractic 

Rumba Café!

• How long have you been in this small business industry?

Our family has owned the business for only 6 months but the restaurant has been around much longer.

• What was your mission at the start of your company?

We really loved the restaurant when we saw it for the first time and decided our mission was to grow it's success and bring in more business. 

• How would you describe the dishes that you offer?

We offer authentic and homey Columbian cuisine.

• What are currently the most exciting dishes on your menu?

The three best things on our menu currently are la mojarra (Tilapia), Bandeja Paisa (A hearty breakfast spread), and warm, crispy, Arepas(cornmeal pancakes).

• What do you think is the significant challenge facing small businesses today?

With the small size of our restaurant, COVID-19 made it hard to continue serving customers with indoor dining. We would love to expand to some outdoor seating options soon. 

• What methods do you use to promote your business?

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @rumbacaferestaurant 

• What do you enjoy about being a local business in Leonia?

What we enjoy most about Leonia is the security and sense of tranquility it offers. We also have wonderful clients, especially all of the school children from the middle school and high school that come for lunch and after school. 

This interview was conducted with the sister of Edgar Rojas, the owner of Rumba Café