Yami Buffet Will Open in Medford This October
The restaurant will occupy the former Big Lots storefront within Bear Creek Plaza.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Yami Buffet Inc. is scheduled to open a new dining destination in mid-October 2026. The restaurant will be located at 1070 Biddle Road in Medford.
Why it matters
This opening marks the repurposing of a significant retail storefront within the 189,000-square-foot Bear Creek Plaza. It reflects the ongoing transition of large-format retail spaces into mixed-use venues.
The new site at 1070 Biddle Road represents a footprint within the 189,000-square-foot Bear Creek Plaza. Yami Buffet Inc. officially registered for business in the state on July 14, 2026.
The players
Yami Buffet Inc.
A newly registered dining entity preparing to launch a combined restaurant, market, and arcade.
Bear Creek Plaza
A 189,000-square-foot retail shopping center in Medford that is currently undergoing tenant turnover.
The details
The restaurant is moving into a newly renovated space formerly occupied by a Big Lots retail store. In addition to the buffet service focusing on sushi, seafood, and hibachi, the site plans incorporate an Asian market and an arcade.
Timeline
July 14, 2026: Yami Buffet Inc. registered with the state.
Mid-October 2026: The restaurant is scheduled to open.
Market Landscape
The arrival of Yami Buffet at Bear Creek Plaza follows the broader trend of operators filling former big-box retail vacancies with hybrid dining and entertainment concepts. This project highlights how large retail footprints are increasingly repurposed to support food-anchored destinations.
Operators in the Medford area should monitor how the addition of this mixed-use facility shifts foot traffic patterns within the Bear Creek Plaza corridor. Property managers and retailers should evaluate whether this hybrid model serves as a viable strategy for stabilizing vacancy levels in large-format spaces.
The takeaway
The transformation of the former Big Lots space demonstrates the utility of integrating multiple revenue streams like markets and arcades into a primary restaurant model. Business owners should assess their own square footage for similar opportunities to diversify operations in large-footprint locations.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local commercial real estate, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medford Alert News.
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