Thursday, April 28, 2011

Domo Arigato, Reclaimed Barn Wood

When you think of sushi, reclaimed midwestern barn wood isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. Yet that’s what the architects at restaurant design-heavyweight, Shea, Inc. thought of when asked by the Masu Sushi and Robata restaurant to build their sushi bar.

Masu, located at 330 East Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, is a sushi and robata grill concept that combines traditional Japanese cuisine and hospitality in a hip, modern environment. Interestingly enough, part of that modern environment comes from antique white oak that was reclaimed from a barn built in the 1850s. 


Corey Fromm of Fromm’s Inc. Custom Woodworking & Cabinetry Services was hired to create a sushi bar from rustic, reclaimed lumber. He purchased the beautiful antique white oak from Manomin Resawn Timbers and used it to create a sushi bar top that enhances the playful, high-energy environment. The restaurant features veteran sushi chefs, a Japanese coal-fired robata grill and a full bar with specialty drinks and an extensive Sake list. 


Masu’s energetic and lighthearted atmosphere, including the reclaimed antique white oak bar surface, encourages friendly interaction among chefs, customers and staff and makes Masu the place for dining, drinking and fun in Northeast Minneapolis.


You can see other bar tops and custom furniture made from reclaimed wood at Manomin’s website.