Nagi by Soho Sushi officially opens Monday, Nov. 2, in downtown Tampa, bringing a 180-seat Japanese restaurant and whiskey lounge to the former Gen X Tavern space at 103 E. Jackson St., where the retro-themed restaurant and bar operated for seven years before closing in July.
The opening completes a conversion undertaken by Burton Holdings, which acquired the longtime South Tampa restaurant Soho Sushi in 2022 and also operated Gen X Tavern through managing partner Dave Burton. Gen X, known for its 1980s and 1990s nostalgia, closed July 4 after ownership decided to replace the bar with a more upscale concept, retiring the retro décor, music and pop culture theme that had defined the business since 2019. As TBBW previously reported, the closure followed seven years of operation at the downtown location.
Soho Sushi began in 2005 in a small restaurant on South Howard Avenue, with 10 tables and a seven-seat sushi bar, before relocating to Kennedy Boulevard in 2008. Its expansion into downtown Tampa introduces a different approach to dining, with sushi chefs preparing nigiri, rolls and other selections directly at customers’ tables, alongside a Japanese whiskey lounge offering sake, specialty cocktails and premium spirits.
The menu also includes Japanese small plates, wagyu dishes, pork belly fried rice and other hot kitchen selections, while the restaurant accommodates customers looking for a full dinner, drinks or late-night service. Tableside sushi is available by reservation for an additional charge, and Nagi plans to remain open until 1 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with earlier closing hours during the rest of the week.
Before its official opening, Nagi hosted a friends-and-family event and offered reservation-only previews from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, giving customers an opportunity to visit the new dining room, bar and cocktail lounge.