Koi Asian Fusion offers unique experience

What does it take to have a successful restaurant business? Some suggest a strong business plan, an understanding of the local market, finding the right location and staff, creating menus that appeal to customers, recognizing the importance of the staff, and creating a guest experience that encourages repeat business.

Richard and Joyce Chu have obviously found that formula in their Imperial Cathay restaurant on Youree Drive. Now, they are branching out with a new venue on Line Avenue, called Koi Asian Fusion. “Joyce and I travelled around a lot of places. We’ve been taking pictures and talking. All the food, and all the décor, and all the design work. Years and years of information gathered,” Richard said.

As the name implies, the concept is an amalgam of those experiences of research and planning.

“We got some ideas from Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, even China and some parts in Europe, like London. We studied it all. We sit down and go through multiple meetings of what we want to show our city.”

Chu said he wanted to create something unique, something Shreveport didn’t have.

They sought the input of a woman whose family has been in the interior design business for 30 years, and Ting Geng, the creative collaborator, shared their enthusiasm. “Koi is owned by Joyce and Robert, who are a couple very deeply rooted in Shreveport,” she said.

The Chus have operated Imperial Cathay for over 35 years. “They are world travelers, as well, so they feel Shreveport was missing something very high-end, [like] metropolitan-inspired restaurants,” Geng said.

She said they wanted each area of the restaurant to have a different feel. They chose the themes of past, present and future. For the present, the main dining room was chosen. “They main dining room has a lot of light during the day, and it has high ceilings,” Geng explained. “We felt like that space could be filled with custom lanterns and create a very cozy feeling at night.”

The private dining room lent itself to the past motif. Geng described the space as very rustic. They added an aluminum wall covering that radiates a warm tone. “We added light boxes in the wall to creating the feeling of an old Asian town where the streetlights are shining through the windows. We also displayed a case of Japanese teacups to enhance that theme of the past.”

Future is manifested in an area Teng said, “You can imagine ‘Tokyo Drift.’ That hip, Japanese feeling of the street art and neon lights. So, we had a neon light created of the Koi logo, and we had an art installation.”

Koi opened officially in mid-January, and business has been brisk, according to Chu. He said most nights are “packed,” and the lunch business is improving. “I wanted to create something unique. I wanted people to go in and have that ‘wow’ feeling, you know what I mean? Wow, I love this place, I love the food, I love the atmosphere. That’s the kind of vibe I wanted to give to it.”

The Chu family wanted to create something unique with Koi Asian Fusion.

But cool design and excellent food are but two vital parts of the Chu recipe for Koi. “For many years, I have this core group of coworkers. They’ve been with me for over 20-plus years. They started off when they were in their 20s. My restaurant career won’t last forever. I wanted to pass on my experience to our team. The core group are part of this restaurant also. They’re part owners. This restaurant is not solely owned by my wife and me. I don’t want to just leave them behind. I want them to continue what I do. I just wanted for them to have a playground for them to play.”

Chu’s daughter Kelly is also a big part of the new venture. Working with Geng, they selected a picture of Kelly and turned it into a signature element of Koi’s entrance. It’s an image of Kelly as a traditional Japanese entertainer recreated in stainless steel, welcoming diners into a little bit of Asia on Line Avenue.

That’s the recipe the Chus cooked up for their new restaurant. “It’s got that bigcity vibe,” Chu said. “It’s a happy place.

People go in there, not just to eat. It’s to have fun and have a place to sit and chat at the same time.”

That’s the dish Koi Asian Fusion is anxious to serve.

Koi Asian Fusion koishreveport.com (318) 681-8005 6104 Line Avenue, Suite 100