By FRED KRONER
Shai Mauth has been involved with restaurants for decades, both in California and the Champaign-Urbana area.
And yet, when he decided to open a restaurant in Mahomet earlier this year, there was a newness that extended beyond the site location on the far west side of the Eastwood Center.
His business, Poke Shack, was preparing to offer a type of cuisine which was not well-known in the community.
“My grand opening was set to be on March 16 (2020),” Mauth said.
The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic that month caused him to delay. The first day for operations became April 15, 2020.
There was plenty on his mind between the scheduled opening and the actual start date.
“I had concerns for various reasons,” Mauth said. “First was for my safety.
“Second was the uncertainty of how locals in Mahomet would feel about a new establishment with no idea of what I am serving.”
He recognized that some options available to other area restaurants were less lucrative for him.
“A lot of businesses that were established went to delivery or curbside pickup,” Mauth said. “I faced a dilemma. People don’t know my food.
“I like to explain my food personally. The customer connection is important.”
For those unfamiliar with poke, think sushi.
“Sushi bowls are Japanese. Poke bowls are Hawaiian,” Mauth said. “The basic ingredients are the same. The way it is presented is different.
“I like to serve food that folks look at as something different.”
Mauth found that his longevity in the area worked to his advantage.
“Lucky for me, a good amount of folks were familiar with some of my establishments in Champaign-Urbana (such as Broadway Food Hall in Urbana and King Kuma at Fields in Champaign),” he said. “There was excitement for the type of cuisine I was bringing to Mahomet.”
Poke Shack is located at 804 Eastwood Drive, Suite 1, Mahomet.
He offers 10 different Hawaiian plate lunches, curry plates and side dishes as well as sushi rolls. Each day he has fresh poke. A plate lunch consists of meat, rice and two side dishes.
Mauth recently introduced Korean short ribs.
His reception in the community, even during a pandemic, has met expectations.
“It has been nothing short of awesome,” Mauth said. “Mahomet is very supportive of small businesses.”
Part of that is due to the number of repeat customers.
“If I make food that is subpar, I would not have people’s support,” Mauth said.
The hours of operation are not what he anticipates for the future. He is currently working on a limited schedule.
Poke Shack is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Thursdays and Fridays, he reopens from 5-7:30 p.m. The plate lunches are also available in the evening.
“I wanted to be open in the evenings on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and until 8:30, but we’re not there yet,” Mauth said.
Since June, Poke Shack has offered patio seating outdoors at three tables. As the weather cools, that option will not be available.
Mauth has four inside tables, but to utilize social distancing, only serves at three tables.
Getting the word out about the seating has taken time.
“It has been tricky after nothing but takeout,” Mauth said. “It’s just starting to happen. I’m still learning Mahomet’s habits.”
Ironically, when Mauth was contemplating expanding into Mahomet, poke and sushi were not his first options.
“I was looking at a space at Churchill Crossing (on East Oak St.) for a doughnut shop and burger/diner,” he said, “but it cost too much (in rent).”
Subsequently, he learned that the same owners of the Churchill property also own the Eastwood Center.
“The rent was affordable enough to take on as a project,” Mauth said.
Taking over a property that most recently was Ohana Pools and previously had been a Subway restaurant, Mauth decided to switch gears on his food selections.
“It has to do with the kitchen,” he said. “It was easy to convert the space.”
Beyond that, there was another factor.
“It comes down to what I am passionate about,” Mauth said. “A doughnut shop and burger joint would be a safer choice, but I would rather take a leap of faith with food that is not as popular in a smaller community.
“Once I saw the location (at Eastwood), I envisioned something different (than doughnuts and burgers).”
Mauth said the Hawaiian bar-be-que has been a popular selection.
He plans to add other dishes on a seasonal basis.
“I’ll keep up with the trend of offering different things,” Mauth said. “In the winter, I’ll have a Ramen and noodle soup dish. There will be a noodle salad in the spring.”
Mauth has 20 years of experience in the restaurant business. Among the other businesses he was involved with in Champaign-Urbana were a Vietnamese Restaurant in Urbana called Xinh Xinh Café as well as a Ramen takeout spot on the UI Campus called Noodles.
Mauth has learned that the success of restaurants isn’t always a reflection on the quality of food.
“Three years ago, one of my most exciting establishments did pastrami sandwiches,” Mauth said. “I’m fond of pastrami and it was well-received.
“We were catering to the working class in Urbana, but the pandemic hit us hard. We were operating at one-third of what we usually do. Hopefully, we will see the other side of this.”
His interest in the food service industry dates back for decades.
“As a child of immigrant parents (from France) who migrated to the U.S., it was something I was familiar with,” Mauth said. “I grew up in France, but came to California when I was 12.
“When people ask where I’m from, I say California.”
Mauth has a message for those who have not yet tried Poke Shack’s menu.
“Give me a try,” he said. “I have a little something for everybody.
“After four months, there’s a good balance of seafood dishes as well as hearty Hawaiian comfort food.
“My point is to have something for Mahomet to talk about.”
