A day after receiving clearance from the state Department of Health, Genki Sushi locations on Saturday welcomed back a steady flow of loyal regulars and those unconcerned with the restaurant chain’s recent implication in the hepatitis A outbreak.
All 10 Oahu locations, plus one on Kauai, had been ordered closed on Aug. 15 after the DOH confirmed a link between raw scallops served at the restaurants and an outbreak of hepatitis A that to date has resulted in 252 confirmed cases, 66 of which required hospitalization.
The restaurants on Oahu were allowed to reopen after each was extensively sanitized according to DOH guidelines and all returning employees were medically screened and cleared.
Returning employees were also vaccinated against hepatitis A.
The restaurant’s Kauai location remains closed pending renovations.
The Kuniyoshi family, who recently moved from Honolulu to the Bay Area, had few qualms about returning to one of their favorite local haunts during their current visit home. They headed to the Ala Moana Center location straight from the airport.
“And there was no wait,” said Fionna Kuniyoshi. “We walked right in and sat down. We usually have to wait 30 to 40 minutes.”
Husband Jeremy Kuni-yoshi said he felt badly for the restaurant chain when he first heard the news about the hepatitis A connection.
“It didn’t seem like something they had control over,” he said.
The Kuniyoshi kids —
Makoto, 8; Emiko, 6; and Kaito, 4 — were simply happy to be able to sate their Genki cravings, particularly Emiko, who favors the teriyaki chicken and udon.
Manager Jeremiah Gualdarama acknowledged that the lunch crowd was not as large as it usually is on Saturdays but said returning customers continued to stream in through the afternoon.
“We have a lot of loyal customers,” he said.
Managers at other Oahu Genki locations reported similarly light but steady business.
“There aren’t as many customers as before, but a lot of the regulars have come back,” said Sean Moon, an assistant manager at the Genki Sushi in Kapahulu.
Christopher Joaquin, 18, of Waialua, was a twice-a-week regular at the Kapahulu location before the shutdown.
On Saturday, he and a group of friends reconvened at the Ala Moana location to feast on spicy ahi, shrimp tempura, California rolls and other favorites.
“I’m not concerned,” Joaquin said. “I feel like they’ve solved whatever the issues might have been.”
According to the department, the infected scallops, sold as Sea Port Bay Scallops (Wild Harvest, Raw Frozen), originated in the Philippines and were distributed by Koha Oriental Foods and True World Foods. The scallops received by True World Foods were not distributed to any restaurants in the state and were embargoed at their warehouse.
Scallops served at Genki locations on Hawaii island and Maui came from a different supplier and have not been associated with the outbreak.
Because hepatitis A has a long incubation period — as long as 50 days — people have continued to fall ill even though the product has been embargoed for more than three weeks. The virus is transmitted through tainted food or drink or close contact with someone who has it.
Gualdarama, the Ala Moana Center restaurant manager, said employees were able to collect unemployment and the company continued to provide medical coverage during the hiatus.