Nori Sushi and Teppanyaki Restaurant Coming to Bartlett
Nori Plans to Open at Stage Centre
A new Japanese restaurant is planned for the former Saito Japanese Hibachi & Sushi space in Bartlett, bringing teppanyaki dining and a sushi bar back to the longtime restaurant location.
Nori Sushi Bar and Teppanyaki is expected to open in four to six months at 6600 Stage Road in Stage Centre, according to co-owner Vinson Tran. The restaurant will occupy the space where Saito operated for more than three decades before closing.
Tran said the location made sense because Bartlett had few options for teppanyaki dining after Saito closed. The restaurant is renovating the interior while retaining the teppanyaki grills, where chefs prepare food on a large griddle in front of diners.
Nori also plans to feature a large, modern sushi bar serving familiar sushi rolls, crudo, nigiri and sashimi. Tran said the restaurant hopes to eventually bring in fresh fish from Japan and offer occasional omakase dining, in which the chef selects a series of courses for guests.
Tran will oversee the sushi program and the restaurant’s overall operations. He has worked as a sushi chef and in restaurant management, with experience at Osaka Japanese Cuisine, Sekisui and Rain Sushi Bar, as well as in catering.
The restaurant’s owners also hope to make Nori a gathering place for Bartlett and surrounding communities, including families and groups looking for a place to dine together.
Gill Properties, which owns and manages Stage Centre, built the shopping center in 1991. Founder and president Ray Gill said the company sought a similar restaurant concept for the former Saito space because it already had teppanyaki grills, a large kitchen and ample dining space.
Fast Facts
- Restaurant: Nori Sushi Bar and Teppanyaki
- Address: 6600 Stage Road, Bartlett
- Shopping center: Stage Centre
- Former tenant: Saito Japanese Hibachi & Sushi
- Expected opening: Four to six months, according to co-owner Vinson Tran
- Planned menu: Teppanyaki, sushi rolls, crudo, nigiri and sashimi
Source: The Daily Memphian, October 20, 2026.
