National Asian food franchise to open first South Carolina location in Columbia

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A Denver-based Asian food franchise is opening its first South Carolina location in Columbia.

This April, Teriyaki Madness, the Seattle-style Teriyaki Shop franchise with locations all over the country, will open in the Five Points community in Columbia.

Owners Cory Sanders and LaDon Matthews are set to open the first Teriyaki Madness in South Carolina and their first Teriyaki Madness shop at 942 Harden St. on April 12, according to a news release.

The duo’s Teriyaki Shop will offer teriyaki bowls filled with ingredients like all-natural marinated chicken, steak, salmon or tofu with stir-fry veggies and a base of steamed white, brown or fried rice or Yakisoba noodles, the release stated.

Mathews and Sanders dreamt of business ownership for years, the release stated. Sanders worked in network security, first for the military and then in the public sector, while Mathews has been an event planner for over 13 years, according to the release. While they have enjoyed their career, they sought to pursue their entrepreneurial passion and build their own business through franchising.

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“It’s something new and fresh in Columbia. We don’t have any fresh, made to order Asian restaurants. The sauces are unique. I haven’t experienced these flavors anywhere else,” said Sanders in the release. “I love Asian food. When we drove up to Charlotte to try it, we tried it the first time and we were sold already. We tried just about everything on the menu because we wanted to be sure.”

To celebrate, Sanders and Matthews are inviting locals out to the Shop’s grand opening events on April 12 and April 13.

Teriyaki Madness is expanding rapidly in markets across the U.S. and was named the No. 1 Fastest-Growing Big Restaurant Chain in the U.S. by Restaurant Business, according to the release, with more than 150 shops across three countries.

“Cory and LaDon’s new location in Columbia is a big moment for us as we expand into South Carolina and is another important step in our mission to bowl over the whole country with delicious teriyaki,” Michael Haith, CEO of Teriyaki Madness, said in the release.