It’s a one-picture-says-it-all type of story, but it appears that a new Japanese buffet is scheduled to open in the Greenbrier Shopping Center in Bel Air—next door to the site of a Chinese buffet that went out of business last year.
The new business, which the banner seen below advertises as Hachi’s Japanese Buffet, will open in the former location of a Blockbuster video, where the only food served was packaged candy and popcorn. Meanwhile, the former home of the Star Buffet next door lies dark and empty, as it has for months.
A sign posted on the door of the Star Buffet shortly after it closed its doors indicated that the business owed more than $30,000 in costs. As of late last week that notice was long gone and the amount, the parties to whom the money was owed or any other reason for the restaurant’s closure could not be confirmed.
It’s unclear why someone would choose to spend good money to convert a former video store into an Asian buffet when there appears to be a perfectly good, unused Asian buffet right next door. The leasing agent with Kimco Realty whose name and contact information appear on a sign at the shopping center did not return several calls for comment.
It’s possible that the new restaurant will somehow carve into the space of the old and utilize its kitchen facilities. Or, the new restaurant might take over the footprint of both the former Blockbuster suite and the Star Queen space. Renovation permits posted outside the soon-to-be home of Hachi’s indicated that work had been approved for the 225 Brierhill Dr. Suite A—the old Blockbuster space—but no such permits were posted outside Suite B, the former Star Queen Buffet.
“I guess it has a different model, different management,” Harford County Economic Development Director Jim Richardson said. “I thought the other one [Star Buffet]…was successful, but you never know.”
Perhaps it’s just one more mystery of the Orient—unless someone out there knows the answer?
Simple: the Japanese buffet wants to keep the divider wall intact to prevent the Mongolian firm that is poised to take over Star Buffet from capturing both properties.
History! (sort of)
VERY obvious reason. Star Buffet was TINY TINY TINY. Block Buster stores tended to be HUGE.
can these restaurants get original especially with their names? There’s a double dragon in Edgewood and many other places – same name, same food, same boring stuff…sigh, always glad tohear of new business but something different would be nice.
I dont know about Double Dragon, but the Star Buffet gave me double diarrhea. Once I went there and got a simple meal and ordered it made then because previously I had had trouble going to the men’s after going to the buffet. Once a friend was talking to me outside after eating there and he had to run into the men’s room because of exploding diarrhea. After eating the meal I left and pulled out of the parking lot. I immediately had to go in to Applebee’s and use the restroom. After leaving, I headed north and had to pull into Wawa to use their restoom. Someone was sitting in the men’s room stall and they had only one. My rear end was about to exlode and so luckily there was no one in the ladies room. I sat down in a stall and while I was there a lady came into the booth next to me to go. I saw her dress come down and land on top of her high heels. I didnt dare make any noises because I didnt want a lady to know that there was a man there. When I got up, luckily there was no one in the room. Then I went to a Baptism at a Catholic church. I went to use the restroom four times while the baptism was being performed. I almost prayed to Mary for help, but being a Methodist I knew that was useless. When we left and went to my niece’s house for the party I went to the restroom twice there. By that time my rear end was starting to cool off, and I am not even gay. All I had was Chicken Chop Suey. I dont know what they had wrong in that restaurant, but someone must have prayed for it to close. I honestly would rather eat Japanese food contaminated by radiation.
Bill,
I think that was the day WAWA had to call HAZMAT after you left.
Believe it or not, I did have to wipe some of the toilet seat off after I was finished. I didnt want to be too gross so I didnt mention it. Thanks.
Bill,
Nice to see that you have retained an upbeat attitude about such an explosive day. Thanks for sharing your story.
The “Star” was a little creepy at the end. The place was dirty, the food was inconsistent, even if it was out. We could use a good Japanese resturaunt in that area. I hate to go all the way into Bel Air and the parking stinks!!! Looking forward to trying it out. Hope they have SUSHI night
@SG Johnnie’s Sushi House in Perryville is a small place but very tasty and reasonably priced (unlike most Japanese places around here). I hope to see them stick around…
It looks like that coming soon sign has been hanging around for a long time!!!
I can tell you that we just went and had the buffet on Mother’s day and the food was terrible! We were even more shocked when we got the bill. It was myself, husband, 7yr old son and 9yr old daughter and our bill was $80.00.
Absolutly, I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone especially knowing their prices are out of the water. There is nothing in Harford County that comes close to price and the amount of food offered.
I just want to help other families that think they are getting quality and quantiy of food….it is NOT there! Another thing was the fact this facility had zero prices listed so we were completely blindsided!!
VERY DISSAPOINTED!! WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND!
OUTSIDE OF VEGAS THE BEST BUFFET I HAVE EVER BEEN TO!!!! You people have no clue.
Terri,
What was terrible about the food? What did you order? It sounds like you are just upset about the price of the food. Japanese food is typically not cheap- especially sushi. Is the place not a buffet?
Honestly it was your own fault if you ordered food without confirming the price.