A hand roll and sake bar concept called UMIAI will open at 6130 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in the NoHo West shopping center. The eatery will be helmed by Anthony Karapetyan and Michelle Nguyen who are currently in the hiring process, according to UMIAI’s website.
Karapetyan is responsible for The Drunken Crab, a Southern seafood boil franchise; Farm Table Co., a fast-casual, chef-driven counter-service eatery; and Innovative Empire Entertainment Group, a hospitality company focused on opening restaurants and making changes.
The Drunken Crab has two locations, one in NoHo and the other in Santa Barbara, and Farm Table Co. is conveniently situated in Van Nuys’ courthouse district.
Seemingly, this will be Karapetyan’s fourth active concept, but not the entrepreneur’s first rodeo by a long shot. The hospitality pro has been in the industry since childhood, first stepping onto the scene to help his dad and uncle manage the family restaurant before quitting college to open his own spot called Skewers. The WeHo Mediterranean restaurant is now permanently closed.
Not much is presently known about UMIAI, but additional information from Karapetyan is forthcoming.
