CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - With high hopes, Camon Lee opened a sushi restaurant 20 years ago.

The son of Chinese immigrants saw a hot trend and decided Japanese cuisine was a cool way to go. “Californians are health conscious and aware of how they look,” Camon explains. “People don’t always want to fill their stomachs up. Something told me sushi would succeed.”

It did. After several years learning the ropes in other sushi establishments, Lee located his Silver Sake restaurant in the Marconi & Walnut Center, Carmichael. Several busy years later, the entrepreneur expanded from one rented space to two. Customers became regulars. Regulars came to claim the same seats for each visit; sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and greeting fellow diners by name. “It’s like ‘Cheers’ in here, every night,” beams the owner.

Surviving the pandemic without laying off staff, the father of two considers himself “fortunate to still have a business.” Loyal customers adopted his restaurant as one they did not want to fail. They helped organize outdoor eating space; convened weekly sushi nights with friends; ordered home delivery and fundraised to help keep the place going. “Their kindness brought tears to my eyes,” says the owner. “I could not have survived without them.”

For Lee’s 20^th year celebration, rice steamed; sake glasses clinked; caviar exploded on tongues and raw fish slithered down ecstatic throats. A supporter presented a cake festooned with marzipan California rolls. In space that is cramped most nights, standing room only was available.  

“My parents told me America is an opportunity of gold,” beamed Lee. “They were right, one hundred percent. But the most beautiful thing is having friends who want you to succeed.”

Silver Sake is located at 4949 Marconi Avenue, Carmichael.