Jo-To Japanese Steak House, a Bradenton-Sarasota landmark for 40 years, to close soon
The news broke on social media that one of the Bradenton area’s oldest family-owned restaurants, Jo-To Japanese Steakhouse, will be closing.
It’s been a landmark for 40 years at 7971 N. Tamiami Trail, next to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
“We have had some of our best memories here! Sad to see this chapter closing but wishing you all great things in the future,” one person said in a Facebook post.
Another said: “Be still my heart. Demetrios’ on Cortez, now Jo-To? Why does everything good have to end?”
While Demetrios’ reopened soon after closing as Godson’s, a similar second act doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Jo-To.
Owner Etsuko Teshima, 76, said Thursday that it’s time to retire and sell the restaurant.
“I’m tired. Everything in the building is getting older and it’s hard to find servers,” she said. “The restaurant business is a 24-hour job.”
Teshima and her late husband once had five Jo-To restaurants in the Tampa Bay area, scattered from Siesta Key to Brandon and Clearwater.
But the other four have been sold and the last one is for sale as indicated by a Keller Williams Realty Select sign out front.
“So many memories,” Teshima said.
Some of her customers first came as tiny children with their parents and now come with their own children, she said.
“I plan to close by the end of May and I plan to stay in this area,” she said.
Jo-To is Japanese for “excellent; the best; very high class.”
“It is our strong belief that if we treat you as ‘the best’ while in our restaurant, you will enjoy your visit and return. We are honored to serve you tonight and wish you good health,” the restaurant web page says.
Jo-To is closed Sunday and Monday and opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
“Weekends are very busy,” Teshima said.
The Teshimas came to the United States in 1970 and had restaurants in Chicago, Toledo and Atlanta before settling in the Bradenton area.
For more information, visit http://www.jotosteakhouse.com. For reservations, call 941-351-4677.
