The downtown sushi restaurant Dragonfly is undergoing its first metamorphosis since it opened 13 years ago.
Remodeling is estimated to take 30 days, during which the restaurant will remain open, said Hirofumi Leung, the restaurant owner and a UF alumnus.
Although the front of the building is partially boarded with plywood, he said customers will not be inconvenienced because construction starts at midnight and is cleaned up by morning.
“It’s kind of like elves working in the middle of the night,” Leung said.
As for the decor, the renovations will include more traditional Japanese inspiration in an effort to incorporate the culture of the food into the atmosphere.
JMA Contracting is using recycled wood and steel pieces for the renovations.
“The beautiful thing about the reclaimed pieces is they have so much history. With technology and everything moving forward, we thought it would be good to go back,” Leung said. “You can’t forget your roots.”
Myriam Robinson, a 19-year-old UF advertising sophomore, doesn’t think the renovations will deter customers.
“As long as it is clear on the outside that it is still open, I would still go there,” she said.
Emily Cardinal, a 19-year-old UF journalism sophomore, said she isn’t concerned with how the renovations will affect the dining experience.
“It’s my favorite restaurant in Gainesville,” she said. “I’m really excited to see the changes.”
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 9/16/2013 under the headline "Dragonfly gets makeover"
