In 2004, Sujin Han was making sushi at grocery store but was prohibited from selling to other businesses. At the time, she regularly shopped at Weaver Street and began to envision what it would be like to sell her products here. “I felt like I was already a good fit there. Not just for a business but personal as well,” Sujin recalls. It just so happened that Weaver Street was looking for a new sushi vendor, so Sujin started providing Weaver Street with better quality sushi than the co-op was already getting.
Sujin knew the reputation Weaver Street had for taking of its employees and the vendors that worked with them so she was eager and excited to explore her potential with the co-op. Years following, her business would thrive, and more sushi offerings were added. But success was not without bumps in the road. Sujin recalls the greatest challenge she faced while growing with Weaver Street. In 2008, she moved her facility from Carrboro to the newly opened food Weaver food house commissary to keep up with demand for her offerings. Sujin was still making her great sushi daily, but it wasn’t in the store location. At first, sales dropped because shoppers didn’t see the sushi chef behind the counter. But once shoppers adapted to the new change they realized that Sujin was still making the same high-quality sushi.
Twenty-two years later, Sujin Sushi continues to innovate her daily made offerings that are sold at Weaver Street and elsewhere. Sujin’s offerings go beyond her competitors by including flavorful Korean dishes like Japchae, kimchi fried rice and poke bowls. Sujin remarks, “Even in these changing times, we have not skimped on quality by reducing fish portion sizes.” She adds, “The salmon we use is wild and costs 50% more than other salmon”. Sujin knows that by partnering with Weaver Street, quality and transparency is the standard. Sujin brings Korean food culture from her heart and soul and touches the lives of so many. Her mission has always been connecting people, culture with great tasting healthy food. Sujin Han is one of the most resilient entrepreneurs we have met. Her dedication to great food and enthusiasm for life is boundless.