Camon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, a downtown Columbia fixture for nearly 42 years, announced it will close its Assembly Street location indefinitely after its space was included in a recent sale to a developer planning a new hotel.
The restaurant said its final day at 1332 Assembly St. will be Saturday, July 18. Staff posted that the business is “closing down for an unknown period of time” while it seeks a new location, but did not provide a timetable for reopening.
What changed for downtown residents
The building housing Camon was included in a $2.9 million purchase by upscale hotel developer The Kessler Enterprise. The deal covers the Washington Street parking garage and several ground-floor storefronts — properties that sit adjacent to Assembly Street — and is part of a redevelopment plan to build a high-end hotel and tourist attraction.
Columbia City Council approved the sale of the 94,000-square-foot office building to The Kessler Enterprise on Jan. 6, according to the reporting. That vote set in motion changes to the downtown retail mix and parking supply that could affect residents, workers and visitors.
- Camon’s downtown address: 1332 Assembly St.
- Final day in current space: July 18, 2026
- Sale and redevelopment: $2.9 million deal including nearby properties
“It has truly been a pleasure to serve generations of families and the relationships that have blossomed from here,” the restaurant’s statement said. “Also, it has been an honor to be able to provide Columbia not only a taste of traditional Japanese food and culture, but a calming and serene atmosphere to enjoy it in. All the best, Columbia, and hope to see you soon!”
Local dining landscape and next steps
The announcement means downtown Columbia will lose a longtime sushi and Japanese cuisine option while the business searches for a new site. The reporting notes other nearby sushi choices remain, including Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi on Main Street, M Vista and Tsunami in the Vista, and FuruSato Bento in Five Points.
Camon describes itself on its website as having served authentic Japanese cuisine since 1985. Its owners and staff emphasized gratitude for decades of patronage and said they hope to return to Columbia in a new location.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 1332 Assembly St. |
| Years in operation at site | Nearly 42 (since 1985) |
| Last day in current space | July 18, 2026 |
| Sale amount (package) | $2.9 million |
| Developer | The Kessler Enterprise |
City leaders and the developer have framed the purchase as part of broader downtown investment, but the sale also raises questions about the future of small, long-standing businesses that rely on central downtown storefronts. For now, Columbia residents who frequent Camon will need to find alternatives or follow the restaurant’s announcements about a possible relocation.
News Block will monitor further updates about Camon’s search for a new site and developments tied to the Kessler Enterprise’s hotel project.
