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Keith Allison & Mark Brand Dish On Gastown’s Sea Monstr Sushi

Portrait

Sea Monstr Sushi co-owner Mark Brand introduced the upcoming Gastown restaurant’s newly appointed chef to me the other day in Scout’s office. In quite the coup, he’s hired on Keith Allison, formerly of Ken Oda’s superlative Dan on West Broadway. What is Sea Monstr Sushi?

The new and very narrow 585 sqft space will hold 30 seats, including a 12 seat bar. No cocktails, I’m afraid, just 10-15 rolls sushi (the only booze on hand will be Sapporo beer on tap). The front will be all glass to expose the rolling station. Take-away traffic and lunch will presumably be huge, as the neighbourhood is starved for sushi. The duo’s shop – rebranded as the “Sharks + Hammers General Store” – will be installed in the Alexander St. side of the new (but ancient) building with a glass wall rising up from the restaurant’s rear banquette, thus separating the two businesses. The original Sharks + Hammers location will be turned into a gallery.

Opening day is slated for this September. Get some background on Keith in the video above, and some more on Sea Monstr in general below…

  • Sea Monstr Sushi frontage from the street (eventually glass)
  • Sea Monstr Sushi looking toward the street (eventually glass frontage)
  • 12 seat sushi bar area (looking back to the new Sharks & Hammers)
  • Looking back at the shell that will become Sea Monstr Sushi from the new Sharks & Hammers constructron site
  • Hector the contractor working on wood stain samples in the new Sharks & Hammers
  • Mark Brand and Hector commisserating in the new Sharks & Hammers
  • Sharks & Hammers entrance on Alexander

ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

There are 11 comments

  3. Just to be a stick in the mud, I noticed that the slogan is something like ‘destroying hunger in Gastown”. Meanwhile, it is situated next to the Dugout, a place that actually does combat hunger on a daily basis…

  4. Sean – do a little homework on the guys who own this place and you may have to remove said stick 🙂

  6. I love these vids, they’re getting me super pumped! I can’t wait for the new shop & sushi joint to open up! Keith’s so kawaii, I may have to visit more often, especially since it’s only a few shorts blocks from my house! Welcome & best of luck!

  7. Hahaha sweet Keesu and Monstr Sushi! Me hungry rooowl!!!! Godzilla Panther hungry! Good luck with everything I’m looking forward to the restaurant!
    Panther out.

  8. @Nico, I know. It’s just the optics. It’s right next door to the Dugout that’s all. I have nothing against anyone involved, I just noticed that it looked a bit odd. Sorry.

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