Austin-Based Uchi Restaurant Opening in Center City

by Marilyn Johnson

Tyson Cole of Uchi Restaurants; Opening Philly location in late 2025.

Austin, Texas based restaurant group, Hai Hospitality, announced today that they have signed a lease for suite 100 on the first floor of Josephine, a luxury residential tower located at 1620 Sansom Street developed by Nashville-based Southern Land Company.

The space will be home to their celebrated sushi-focused concept, Uchi, founded by James Beard award-winning chef and sushi master Tyson Cole.

“Philly is perfect for us because the city has so much soul and character,” said Uchi Founding Chef Tyson Cole. “Every block has a rich history, and we are eager to become a part of such an eclectic and highly regarded restaurant culture.”

The award‑winning Uchi was opened by Chef Tyson Cole in 2003 in a refurbished old home in South Austin. Cole approached Japanese cuisine with a nontraditional eye, combining unexpected textures and flavors in ways that ignited a spark of innovation in the modern Japanese culinary space.

Hai Hospitality’s internal design team, Hai Design Studio, will be working with local design partner Rohe Creative, and Hai’s architect of record, Zebra, will create the permit drawings.

The space will have 165 seats with 24 of those shared between the bar and sushi bar, and 14 in the more intimate outdoor seating area. The current timeline for opening is late 2025.

“For 2025 we are focused on developing a presence in the compelling Northeast market of the US where we have been tracking a strong following through the success of Uchi in Miami, which many northeasterners have experienced and loved,” said Hai Chief Development Officer Todd Reppert. “Looking at all the major cities, Philadelphia became our quick favorite because of its dense Center City neighborhoods that are representative of the idyllic Northeast city: narrow, local retail lined streets; a diverse mix of residents and daytime office workers and busy sidewalks.”