Teen’s viral TikTok serving to grandfather’s sushi restaurant thrive regardless of pandemic

A Texan restaurant owner says his son’s TikTok viral video breathed new life into a company that struggled to attract customers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sushiya is a Japanese restaurant in the heart of downtown Dallas. Owner Kang Lee opened the restaurant 14 years ago after decades in the restaurant industry.

But when the pandemic hit the US last year, Sushiya’s business began to dry up. With thousands suddenly working from home in the area, the restaurant could no longer rely on the constant crowds that once flocked to the restaurant.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Sushiya saw sales drop to 50% of its pre-pandemic revenue in the year COVID-19 spread in the US.

Andrew Kim, Lee’s grandson, noted that business in Sushiya had slowed down during a trip to Texas in March. He decided to see if he could give his grandfather’s business a boost from his Gen Z counterparts by making a TikTok.

Kim posted the 10-second video on his TikTok account on March 19th. The video includes photos and videos of Lee, his restaurant, and some of the staff who shot the Beach Bunny song “Cloud 9”.

“Business with Corona was slow, so it would mean a lot if you came 🙂 #smallbusiness #sushi #texas #food,” wrote Kim in his caption.

@andrewrafaelkim

Business with Corona was slow, so it would mean a lot if you came 🙂 ## smallbusiness ## sushi ## texas ## food

♬ Cloud 9 – beach bunny

The video started quickly. It has been favorited nearly 2 million times since Friday, and the video has received more than 33,000 comments. The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Observer report that it has been viewed more than 6 million times.

TikTokers didn’t just like Kim’s video; They actually came to the restaurant. The Dallas Observer notes that customers have queued at the door for the past few weeks.

Lee told the Morning News that his earnings have returned to up to 95% of pre-pandemic earnings in recent months. He told the newspaper that he hopes to retire soon and that his grandson’s TikTok has helped him pay off the debt to make it happen.

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