Sawa Lafayette Partners Dispute Reasons for Closure on Social Media as Customers Left Confused

Just months after opening this summer, Sawa All-You-Can-Eat Sushi & Live Hibachi has shut down for good, leaving many customers and employees shocked. Located in the former Dozo spot on Johnston Street, Sawa aimed to offer a unique dining experience to the Acadiana community, but internal issues among partners led to its downfall.

On Saturday, September 21, Yigui Ren, a partial partner, posted on Facebook to announce the closure. He explained that two key partners had unexpectedly left and didn’t provide a backup plan. "Unfortunately, this left us no choice but to close our doors," Ren wrote. To help loyal customers, he mentioned that Sawa gift cards could still be used at Tokyo Japan-Carencro, another restaurant linked to one of the partners.

But things got messier with a follow-up post from Sawa that revealed even more alleged problems. The message claimed that promises made about ownership were broken and that important decisions were being made without enough input from everyone. It expressed appreciation for community support while highlighting the challenges of running a restaurant without solid leadership.

In response, Tokyo Japan-Carencro posted late Monday night (Sep. 23), denying the accusations and saying they would take legal action against former partners. "We’re committed to integrity, quality, and serving our community," they stated, emphasizing their reputation since 2019.

Jude Walker from 97.3 The Dawg reported on the situation, noting how quickly things changed from a temporary closure for maintenance announced on September 8 to a permanent shutdown just weeks later.

The public breakdown in communication among partners has raised many questions about what’s next for the restaurant and its employees.

As things hopefully get rectified civilly, customers can reportedly use their Sawa gift cards at Tokyo Japan-Carencro. We wish the Sawa Lafayette crew well in their future endeavors.