Genji to open izakaya in further shakeup of Whole Foods restaurant row

Not only are Goldie and Federal Donuts moving into the restaurant row at Whole Foods Market's Center City store, so is sushi giant Genji with what it's called a Japanese tapas concept.

Goldie and FedNuts will open Friday, Nov. 3. Genji Izakaya will open Nov. 13 in the spot occupied by Severino Pasta. No hard feelings there. "We're moving on to a bigger project with Whole Foods," said Louis Severino, owner of the South Jersey company. Severino's stand will close Nov. 10.

Severino makes Whole Foods' fresh pasta, and the Italian sandwich kiosk was a bit out of scope.

Likewise, Genji has deep ties to Whole Foods, supplying sushi to stores across the country, including the year-old store, at 20th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

When the dust settles, the restaurant row will include Goldie (the falafel specialist), Federal Donuts (doughnuts and chicken), Dizengoff (hummus), and Genji Izakaya, whose menu will include ramen, bao sliders, poké, and bubble tea. Genji has a similar setup at Whole Foods stores in Chamblee, Ga., and in New York City at Columbus Circle.

Cheu Noodle Bar and Wiz Kid last month announced that they were leaving the food court.

The Federal Donuts will open at 8 a.m. Nov. 3, featuring their signature doughnuts and fried chicken as well a new fancy variety, apple streusel, exclusively offered at this location. Goldie — which just announced that it would be a tenant next year in a new food hall at Penn — will open at 11 a.m. serving falafel, french fries and tehina shakes, offering a Whole Foods Market exclusive orange blossom tehina shake.