Yellowknife (May 19/04) - A group of Yellowknife sushi lovers won't give up their favourite restaurant without a fight.

A petition is circulating in an effort to save the Sakura Japanese restaurant in the Explorer Hotel. The restaurant and Nunastar Properties, who bought the Explorer last month, plan to close the Sakura in a week.

Nunastar president Doug Cox said the restaurant is losing money and customers are few and far between.

Petition organizer Jennifer Morin said many people were "shocked" hear the restaurant is closing.

They've collected about 50 signatures so far. The group plans to hand their petition to Nunastar later this week.

"We need sushi in Yellowknife," said Morin.

"We want to get the new owners to consider at least a temporary extension of Sakura or maybe have the staff look into opening another location."

Suffers from genetic disorder

Andrea Booth, who suffers from celiac disease -- a genetic disorder that has rendered her intolerant to food containing wheat products -- said her ailment limits her choices of places to dine out. Sushi is mainly composed of raw fish and rice.

"It's tricky for me to go out for supper because there's wheat hidden in lots of things," said Booth.

Cox said most of staff at Sakura will be kept on to work in the hotel's other restaurant, Barckley's, where sushi will be served.

"Our game plan is to continue to have a sushi menu in the main dining room," said Cox.

"But the reality is that there's not enough business there to support two restaurants in that hotel."