Osake bar, neighbor businesses will close
Leasing issues, not the fatal shooting, caused the close
Osake Sushi Bar & Lounge, Skybox Sports Bar & Lounge and retail shop Bamboo Sky will close at the end of the month when their building's lease expires.
Rumors circulating around Honolulu about Osake's impending closure have cited last month's fatal shooting as the reason. However, an owner, who spoke to the Star-Bulletin on condition of anonymity, said the impending closure is due to leasing issues.
Osake and Skybox are separate companies with some principals in common. Bamboo Sky subleased its space from the owners of Osake.
The owner of the building at 1700 Kapiolani Blvd., based in San Diego, did not return Star-Bulletin calls.
The location was previously the site of Blue Tropix Restaurant and Nightclub, Koi Sushi Restaurant and Sake Lounge and more recently, Osake, where Daniel Browne-Sanchez was fatally shot in the early morning hours of Feb. 10.
Browne-Sanchez worked at Osake but was also a state deputy sheriff.
Skybox opened upstairs in 2004, replacing Bikini's Sports Bar and Grill.
Star-Bulletin reporter Jason Genegabus contributed to this story