ShawneeDispatch.com

When a downtown Shawnee Asian restaurant reopened this spring, its new name reflected its new look.

The short-lived Asian Breeze restaurant at 6010 Nieman Road closed for renovations and reopened May 1 as Sushi Mido. The second half of the new name — mido — means “more beautiful,” owner Eric Lin said.

In recognition, the Shawnee Economic Development Council honored Sushi Mido with this year’s Downtown Revitalization Award. The award, announced last week at the council’s annual business appreciation luncheon, honors a business that made significant improvement to the outside of its building.

“I just say thank you very much,” Lin said at the luncheon. “I’m happy.”

Lin, a Shawnee resident, emigrated from southern China about 15 years ago, he said. He said he has owned Taste of China restaurant, 7805 Quivira Road, for about six years.

Earlier this spring, Lin opened Asian Breeze in the downtown Shawnee building that formerly housed Ho-Ki Chinese Restaurant.

Asian Breeze was open for about two months before Lin decided to close it and try something different. He spent about a month renovating the building before reopening as Sushi Mido, which serves sushi — including an all-you-can-eat option — as well as traditional Chinese food.

Impact award

The Shawnee Economic Development Council also announced the winner of this year’s Downtown Impact Award.

Dodge City Beef, 11115 Johnson Drive, was chosen for its added investment to the downtown area.

Heidi Hullman-Davis said her business has customers who drive hours to buy their dry-aged, growth hormone-free angus beef, which is raised on her family’s farm in Pratt, Kan.

“We have really been so grateful to be in the city of Shawnee,” she said. “It’s a small town in a big city.”

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