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Uchi Restaurant Group is shedding its skin with a new name and forthcoming new restaurant. The rebranded group is Hai Hospitality, and the new project will be found at 2115 South Lamar sometime in 2017. While there is no word on what the concept will be for the restaurant, partner/chef/owner Tyson Cole has talked about opening a Southeast Asian fast casual concept three years ago. He hasn't said anything since then.
The name Hai comes from the Japanese word meaning "heard," which Cole appreciated because it "take[es] the simple act of answering a question to another level of respect," he said in a press release. The group introduced the change with a video published earlier this month. Hai's new website will include job listings, a retail shop, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurants.
Under newly-renamed Hai’s scope are Uchi (Austin, Houston, Dallas), Uchiko, and Top Knot in Dallas. Now-former Uchi Restaurant Group closed down pizza-focused St. Philip last year.
