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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 16, 2021
Celebrated ramen restaurant opens downtown ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF
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signature California-based ramen restaurant chain has opened its first Arizona location in downtown Chandler. JINYA Ramen Bar, a contemporary Japanese franchise restaurant concept, opened recently in New Square, where DC Steakhouse and The Stillery are neighboring tenants. JINYA in Chandler, owned by Realtor Daradee Olson, is the 41st location of a concept started in 2010 by Tomo Takahashi, the son of a restaurateur in Japan. His father had owned an Isakaya-style restaurant named Jinya, where he focused on delicious food at reasonable prices that’s accessible to all.
Maedell Dixon
JINYA Chandler owner Daradee Olson, third from left, is flanked by her team. It includes, from left: Lori Eitel, Paul Norris, Daradee Olson, Jordan Ruiz, Stephanie Daniels and Cody Tolbert. (Debby Wolvos/Special to SanTan Sun News)
Wanting to revive his father’s dream, Takahashi opened his first JINYA in Tokyo in 2000, naming the restaurant for a Samurai soldier who was close to the community. When he came to the U.S. Takahashi decided that traditional taste and flavor of ramen wasn’t possible – unless he made it himself. So, he opened his first restaurant in Los Angeles. Takahashi has been called one of the nation’s most influential restaurateurs. Olson was inspired to bring a JINYA to Chandler after stumbling upon the concept while vacationing in Utah. She lived in Taiwan for six years, which allowed her the opportunity to visit 42 countries
see RAMEN page 33
Connie Cockrell
Harold Dixon
Betty Webb
episodes since the first season in September 2020,” said Fagen. “We have enjoyed talking with so many different artists, authors and creatives, and hope we have connected them with art patrons. “We will continue to promote fine art and fine artists on our social media pages at Art Online AZ.” In Episode 15, which launched last week, multi-media artist Asi Panoutso-
poulou of Chandler shows her one-of-akind polymer clay jewelry and discusses the transition from a hobby to a business. Born and raised in Greece, she discovered the medium while on a trip there, and says “polymer clay became a passion and a way of expressing myself.” The show also features mystery author Betty Webb of Scottsdale, who has published 17 books in two different series.
Webb, a former journalist, talks about how stories she covered in her newspaper career became themes for her novels. Webb is also a popular writing instructor, a former syndicated book reviewer, and a member of National Federation of Press Women, The Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
AZ Creates! Wrapping up successful first season ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF
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Chandler artist is among the four guests scheduled in May for the final episodes of AZ Creates!, the YouTube web series television show highlighting artists and authors, produced and hosted by Chandler resident Laurie Fagen. “We are so proud to have produced 16
see AZ CREATES page 33
