As Kasai Scottsdale prepares for national expansion under new ownership, the Arizona restaurant brand is making clear that growth will not come at the expense of the community relationships that built its reputation. Executive Decisions Group Inc., the Scottsdale based company that recently acquired Kasai as its first boutique hospitality brand, has become the title sponsor of Kasai’s fourth annual Fire & Fairways Charity Golf Tournament with a $5,000 donation benefiting Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers.
The sponsorship marks one of EDGI’s first public investments following its acquisition of Kasai and reflects the company’s commitment to preserving the family-owned restaurant’s legacy while expanding the brand beyond Arizona. Founded in 2001, Kasai has become known throughout the Valley for its teppanyaki dining experience, coined “dinnertainment,” and family centered hospitality. Rather than reimagining the concept, EDGI is working alongside the founding family to preserve the culture, guest experience and community partnerships that have defined the restaurant for more than two decades.
“Kasai earned its reputation because of the relationships the founding family built with guests and with the community,” said Robert Stidham at EDGI. “When we chose to invest in Kasai, we weren’t looking to change what made it successful. We wanted to protect that legacy while creating opportunities to introduce the Kasai experience to new communities across the country.”
That philosophy is reflected in the company’s continued partnership with Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers.
Kasai launched Fire & Fairways several years ago to support the nonprofit, which provides free music, arts and vocational training programs for Arizona teenagers. Rather than shifting priorities after the acquisition, EDGI elected to strengthen the partnership by becoming the tournament’s title sponsor.
“This tournament represents everything Kasai has always stood for,” said Emma Russello, Kasai’s marketing director and daughter of the founding family. “It’s about bringing people together around great food, meaningful experiences and giving back. Seeing our new ownership invest in that mission from the very beginning reinforces that we’re building the future together while staying true to the values that made Kasai successful.”
The fourth annual Fire & Fairways Charity Golf Tournament will be held Monday, Sept. 21, at the Westin Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale. Registration includes golf, a Kasai lunch buffet, complimentary beverages, raffles and prizes, with proceeds supporting Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers.
The event is expected to bring together business leaders, restaurant supporters and community members from across Arizona while raising funds to expand opportunities for local youth.
As Kasai begins its next chapter, leadership says maintaining those community connections will remain central to the brand’s identity, regardless of how many locations ultimately open nationwide.
“Arizona is where Kasai’s story began,” said Stidham. “As we look toward national growth, we want every new location to reflect the same hospitality, family values and commitment to giving back that guests have experienced here for more than 25 years.”
