If it seems like we’ve been hearing about the soon-to-open Roxu Asian Fusion for the past few years, that’s because we have been. The restaurant, located by Barrio in the Uptown district of Lakewood, has been “coming soon” for two years. But the finish line is fast approaching, says management, with a scheduled opening just two or three weeks out.
Most of the delays have been thanks to construction, with the owners – Christoff Short and Kim Novotney – taking on much of the work themselves. The main floor of the building at 15607 Madison Avenue, once three separate storefronts, has been combined into a single 3,000-square-foot space. When it opens later this month, Roxu will accommodate approximately 90 guests in a sleek, modern dining room and bar.
“I love Asian food personally – the sushi and fresh fish – but the fusion is the fun part of it,” he says.
Imagine cuisines like Chinese, Japanese and Korean mingled with our Midwestern ingredients and sensibilities and you begin to get an idea of what to expect. In Dippong’s hands, comfort foods like chicken and waffles or barbecue ribs and slaw get an Asian spin. The menu will feature snacks like fish ribs, duck wings, fried rice and tuna poke, and larger plates like noodle and rice bowls like bibimbop.
The bar will offer cocktails made with fresh-fruit, sake and even tea.
The name, by the way, is an Asian play on “rocks you.” Owner Short was born in the Far East.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2015.
Hockey is quite popular among kids in Lakewood (and other nearby towns), and the Hockey Stop catered to their needs. The hair salon next door was in that location for more than two decades.
And they were removed…forced out…pushed out… for WHAT? Yet another yupscale eatery that needs 3,000 sq. ft.? Three fucking storefronts–for a mere ninety hipster patrons? Ninety? Seriously?
The rampant and unchecked gentrification (and Brooklynization) of Lakewood goes on…and on…
Chuckles the Clown
The prior tenants left on their own accord. Elements moved to a new location after a building they bought burnt in a fire. Patrons can find them just down the road in a space remodeled after the fire forced them out of their new building space. Stop in as they are really great stylists. The hockey stop went out of business two years ago and their skate sharpening machine was donated to the Cleveland Skate Club.
No one was asked to leave and Roxu took over the space to assure that two empty store fronts wouldn’t plague the neighborhood.
Go Roxu! Nice to see an otherwise terrible space turn into something beautiful.
I agree with Chuckles that the “Rampant Gentrification” is making Lakewood too nice of a place to live.
I miss the abandoned store fronts of my youth and am sickened by the idea that they should be replaced by successful ventures.
This should all be interesting! It will be fun to see how it goes first hand since I live a block away!
Hope you own your home, Pollen, as you might “bee” laughing out the other side of your face one fine day, after sky-high rents force you out, too…
Yeah, right…so Roxu took over the space to assure that two empty store fronts wouldn’t plague the neighborhood? No…they took them over for the same reason other restaurant owners do…because they thought it would grant them a license to print money.
Time will tell.
Chuckles the Clown
I’m psyched! The fencing club, Cyrano’s Place, has students looking for food before and after practice that is healthy. I suspect the gym and dance studio people will agree to! Yum!