Uchi Restaurant Group, known for Uchi restaurant locations in Austin, Houston and Dallas, changed its name in February to Hai Hospitality.[/caption]

Austin-based company Uchi Restaurant Group—known for Uchi restaurant locations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston as well as Uchiko in Austin—has renamed its holding company to Hai Hospitality as of Feb. 16.

Hai is a Japanese word, which in its simplest translation means "yes," according to the company. Responding with the term is a “hallmark of unity” among the company’s employees, Hai Hospitality President John Baydale said in a news release.

“This new name perfectly expresses our respect for the food, our guests, our culture, and the whole experience and how we strive to take it to that next level,” Baydale said.

Hai Hospitality will also launch an online retail shop and aims to debut a new restaurant concept at 2115 S. Lamar in Austin sometime during the next 12 to 18 months. City of Austin permits indicate plans for a business called Loro Restaurant have been filed for that address.

Before rebranding, the company's St. Philip Pizza Parlor restaurant in Sunset Valley closed Nov. 1. A Dallas-based pizza restaurant and Austin-based ice cream food truck are taking over that location on South Lamar Blvd.

More information about Hai Hospitality is available at www.haihospitality.com.