Kasai Japanese Steakhouse is starting a new chapter under EDGI, a Scottsdale-based hospitality group led by Arizona native Robert Stidham — and he’s spreading the word worldwide.

Stidham recently traveled to Dubai to discuss franchises there. He has received calls from businesspeople in Australia and said the next teppanyaki-and-sushi brand will open at a “major resort.” 

“We’re continuing to get inquiries from potential partners,” he said. “We’re excited about that. It’s a wonderful business.”

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Stidham, who took over the 25-year-old “dinnertainment” restaurant this spring, said the transition has been smooth. He appreciates his guests, especially when they are cautious about discretionary income. 

“The first thing that they typically cut out is dining,” he said. “That’s probably not a surprise. 

“We provide a really unique dining experience because of our focus on teppanyaki. We have a nice sushi bar, too. We have all those things, but I think the teppanyaki is really what makes us special. People come into Kasai happy, and they leave happier. You don’t get to do that very often in most businesses.”

EDGI (Executive Decisions Group Inc.) is the parent company of Summa Franchise Consulting LLC, the firm Stidham built into a leading advisory group for franchising, licensing, dealership and distribution brands. 

Expansion will be strategic, not saturated. “We’re not going to take a Subway approach and put three on Scottsdale Road within a mile of each other,” he said.

Its portfolio also includes food, manufacturing, fitness, healthcare and other high‑growth sectors. Stidham said Kasai — of which EDGI now owns 100% — is a natural fit for the company’s diversified platform and its long-term strategy. Stidham is quick to credit Michael Russello and his family, who founded Kasai (originally Sapporo) in 2001.

“They have really been a great steward of the brand over the last two-and-a-half decades,” Stidham said. 

“You try things, sometimes in business, and they don’t work out as intended. We’re not part of that story. We’re a part of how this thing continues to move forward. I am immensely grateful to the Russellos for all the work they’ve done to build a wonderful brand with a great reputation.”

He is adamant about preserving what guests love at Kasai, located at 14344 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale. Kung pao edamame, Korean steak tacos, filet mignon and stir fry, for example, will most likely stay on the menu. 

“We want to keep the things that people really love about Kasai. We’re going to introduce some new things over time, and we’re going to be thoughtful about that,” he said.

Some of those new ideas are in motion, including the return of Kasai’s charity golf tournament on Nov. 8. Retail products, including Kasai’s ginger dressing — will hit stores. 

Though Stidham has lived around the world, Arizona is home. Born at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and raised partly in Tucson, he returned to the state a decade ago.

For Stidham, Kasai Japanese Steakhouse represents the rare combination of nostalgia, community and untapped potential. And now, it’s a brand poised for growth.

“We want to remain a vibrant part of the community, and kind of the social fabric and experience and memories of families in the Valley,” he said.