Durham Japanese restaurant, sushi bar closes

Sushi and modern Japanese restaurantBasanclosed its doors Friday, several days earlier than expected.

Basan opened just over three years ago in the American Tobacco Campus' Diamond View III building near the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The restaurant specializes in sushi rolls, and appetizers and entrees inspired by West Coast Japanese cuisine.

While the restaurant benefited from its location, the closure was ultimately due to to the "instability of drawing crowds or foot traffic on nights without events in the area," Eschelon representatives said.

Many members of Basan's staff have been offered jobs at Eschelon's other restaurants including Cameron Bar & Grill,Mura at North Hills,The Haymakerand Edwards Mill Bar and Grill.

Basan's last day of operation is June 30.