# @columbuslibrary on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DHQoX9qvWPm
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33998114-columbuslibrary-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0038aae3be.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-03-16T12:15:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Columbus Library (@columbuslibrary) — https://gondola.cc/columbuslibrary

## Caption

Otani was the first sushi bar in Columbus, Ohio ➡️

Standing near the corner of I-71 and 161, this building was home to many businesses including a clothing company and a real estate developer, but most memorably, it was home to two famous restaurants.

First was Tamarack Restaurant & Lounge, known for their famous ribs. Waitstaff, donning red tuxedo jackets, would serve 2,000 pounds of ribs per week. Tamarack was also known for its steaks and its seafood, including lobster and swordfish.

In 1984, the restaurant moved to Schrock Rd. and continued service as “Tamarack at 1105”, then “Bistro 1105”, before closing in 1997.

In its place came Otani, the first sushi bar in Columbus. Founders Kazushige Honda and his wife Maya opened their first restaurant in Cleveland in 1978, the first sushi bar in the entire Midwest, which caught the attention of then-Governor James A. Rhodes.

Governor Rhodes regularly hosted Japanese politicians while he worked to establish a Honda vehicle plant in Marysville. He made frequent catering orders with Kazushige – enough that, eventually, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce helped Otani secure space in this building. Kazushige and Maya made the permanent move to Columbus in 1984.

Otani was an immediate hit, and often declared an area “best”, receiving rave reviews from local foodies like the Columbus Dispatch’s “Grumpy Gourmet”, Doral Chenoweth. 

Otani closed in 2014 after more than 30 years in business, paving the way for countless others like Akai Hana (Restaurant Japan) and Sapporo Wind. Many of Otani’s alumni have gone on to found and run other celebrated sushi establishments in Columbus.

Since Otani’s departure, the building has been home to businesses like American Ministries, Classic Exteriors, Inc. and Whitt Roofing & Restoration. Today, it shows space available for rent.

#columbushistory #ohiohistory #columbus

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## Tags

ohiohistory, columbushistory, columbus

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