Kamehachi is Chicago's original sushi bar restaurant. Gulia Sindler is its current owner, and she says the meaning behind its name is simple.
"Kamehachi means eight turtles, literally in Japanese. Kame is the word for turtle, and hachi is the number eight," Sindler explains.
Gulia Sindler is the third generation of her family to own Kamehachi -following in the footsteps of her mother, Sharon Perazzoli and her late grandmother, Marion Konishi, who opened the Old Town fixture at 1617 N. Wells back in 1967. The restaurant moved to 1400 N. Wells from 1993 to 2011, and then to its current location at 1531 N. Wells.
"My grandmother’s restaurant was the first Japanese restaurant that made sushi in front of you," says Sindler who adds in the beginning, the clientele was mostly Japanese businessmen, but as sushi grew in popularity, so did Kamehachi.
"People started eating sushi. People started loving it," Sindler says of the sushi boon the restaurant experienced attracting a number of celebrities along the way.
"The Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi spot was right next door. Belushi and the crew would come in occasionally. We were quite amused when we saw his SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit about the sushi chef. It’s nice to think he might’ve been inspired in someway," she laughingly adds before listing a couple of other celebrity guests.
"I remember when Yoko Ono came in, and she caused quite a lot of attention in the dining room. Also the night that Richard Gere popped in."
Sindler says Kamehachi also became a favorite spot for athletes in the city--including some of the dynasty-era Chicago BULLS.
"Dennis Rodman would call from halftime and say it’s Dennis, I’m coming in with a few people," she remembers.
The list of celebrities is long, but Sindler credits their loyal customers with keeping Kamehachi thriving for nearly 60 years.
"Those people, brought their children and the name just became popular and synonymous with sushi," she explains.
Sindler says the restaurant's success is a testament to her grandmother's incredible dream and drive.
"She would be proud," Sindler says fondly remembering the pioneering family matriarch, nicknamed “the dragon lady," for her strong personality.