Nibbles & Bytes: Azteca Mexican To Replace Sushi Tsu & J. Baja’s

I can’t even tell you how upset I am that Sushi Tsu Japanese Steak & Sushi in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms has closed. Although the delicious hibachi grill and sushi place was a local favorite of mine and yours, owners A.J. and Tawnya Jewell couldn’t come to an agreement on a new lease at the plaza and the restaurant closed on March 11. A.J. did tell me that he plans to reopen in our area at another location as soon as possible.

Less than a day later, we got word that a new eatery — Azteca Mexican Restaurant — was set to replace Sushi Tsu and a company spokesperson says the Seattle, WA-based chain of more than 30 restaurants with huge, upscale menus without the upscale prices in Washington state, Oregon and Florida has two successful locations in Orlando and another even closer to us in Winter Haven. The spokesperson also said that the Tampa Palms Azteca was planning for a soft opening before Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day.

Another casualty of Azteca coming to the Shoppes at Amberly was J. Baja’s Mexican Grill. Obviously, even though they’re two different types of restaurants, Azteca likely couldn’t have co-existed in the same plaza and we were told J. Baja’s had not had a lease for several months.

For more information about Azteca, visit AztecaMex.com.