Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar will reopen at Waterfront Plaza, in the former Bonsai restaurant space, around Sept. 1.

As such, the new space will be mere steps away from the original Oahu location of Vino and sister restaurant Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas, which closed May 21.

The economics of staying in the original space did not pencil out, said chef and restaurateur Dave "D.K." Kodama. "We decided not to extend the lease," but then management of Waterfront Plaza suggested a move across the breezeway to the former Bonsai space.

There were further negotiations and the new lease was signed within the past week or so, he said.

There always was "a good vibe" at Waterfront Plaza, and Vino and Hiroshi, as well as Slurp, the lunchtime pop-up ramen restaurant, were "blessed," he said.

Executive chef Keith Endo will helm the reopened Vino, bringing back customers’ favorites and introducing new dishes.

Ann Taketa will continue in her position as general manager, Cheryle Furuya will be the private dining coordinator overseeing private dining rooms with seating for approximately 36 people, and master sommelier Chuck Furuya will continue to serve restaurant guests with wine recommendations.

Dinner seating will be upstairs and downstairs, with private dining spaces on the second level, and the restaurant will be open at least five, if not six nights a week, Kodama said.

There are no plans to revive Slurp for the foreseeable future, Kodama said, nor will the Hiroshi concept be brought back by DK Restaurants.

All the lease negotiations and restaurant closing decisions were being made as Kodama’s D.K. Restaurants Group announced plans to expand his Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar concept to Seattle. The planned opening date for its first mainland expansion, is prior to the end-of-year holidays.

Meanwhile, work crews are enclosing the Vino and Hiroshi storefronts with plywood. No announcement has been made about any new tenant secured for the space.

Before Bonsai, short-lived restaurants in the Bonsai space included Carnaval Las Palmas, Meritage, Ferno, Baci at the Row, and going way back, Touch the East.