Mt. Fuji Steakhouse Celebrates 50 Years

HILLBURN, NY — Mt. Fuji Steakhouse will be celebrating 50 years in December. This regional destination for Japanese hibachi cuisine is a family-owned business and an icon on the New York Thruway. To celebrate, the Fujita family have been renovating.

Nancy Fujita recently answered questions for Patch's Business Spotlight:

1. When did your business open? The chain of Mt Fuji restaurants opened in 1969 with its first restaurant in Fairview, NJ. Mt Fuji located in Hillburn, NY opened its doors in 1985. Mt. Fuji will celebrate 50 years this December.

2. How did you come up with the name? My parents are the founders of Mt Fuji, Mr. and Mrs. Tokuaki Fujita came up with the name as it the tallest mountain in Japan and also a sacred site of indigenous faith and spirituality. It is very respected and loved by the Japanese people.

3. Why have a business in this town? The Village of Hillburn is where the once well-known Motel on the Mountain operated and was regarded as a local landmark. It was also designed by a prominent architect, Junzo Yoshimura, who modeled the facility after the famous Kyomizudera temple in Kyoto Japan. Since then it changed hands and was taken over by our family, where Japanese Miya carpenters renovated the facility into a Japanese steakhouse. Most of the materials were brought from Japan, keeping with the traditional décor and design. Mt Fuji in Hillburn has been in operation for 34 years. The Village of Hillburn is filled with warm, community oriented residents whom we are grateful for their patronage and support.

4. What business are you in? We are in the Restaurant Hospitality and Event Business. We work with many of our guests who plan family celebrations or corporate events of all sizes, from dinner parties at Mt. Fuji Hibachi to a private party in Y’s Lounge or a big family wedding or corporate event at The Views. At Mt. Fuji we have the ability to create different atmospheres that suits our customers' needs. We are in a FUN business and enjoy creating memories and traditions for our customers.

5. What's the most difficult challenge you've faced? There are challenges in every business, presently we are just completing our renovations while remaining open. Each night we would open at 5pm, the show must go on!

6. What's one highlight you've had since you opened? We have recently renovated our restaurant, event space known as The Views while opening a new lounge. We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue the legacy of my parents business and by honoring them we’ve expanded by introducing our new Y’s Lounge concept, offering a Japanese Fusion menu small plates for our existing Mt Fuji patrons while gaining new customers who may want to experience the new sleek atmosphere of sophisticated dining.

7. How does your business give back to the community? We partake in local community events in the Village of Hillburn as well as charity events such as the Taste of Rockland and Savor - Center for Food Action in NJ as well as hosting functions for the Japanese Heiwa Peace & Reconciliation Foundation.

BUSINESS: Mt Fuji Steakhouse

ADDRESS: 296 Old Rt 17 Hillburn, New York

WEBSITE: www.mtfujirestaurants.com

PHONE: 845.357.4270

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that's the belief behind this series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well. If you have a local business you'd like to have considered, email lanning.taliaferro@patch.com