“Life is What Happens To You While You’re Busy Making Other Plans” –John Lennon
In January of 2020 when Mike Luna and Sahag Gureghian celebrated the Grand Opening of Island Fin Poke, in Boca Park, it was the joyful culmination of a dream that began years ago. That is, until nature itself intervened to alter the original path they had so carefully planned out.
After becoming a family of four (with the adoptions of son, Logan and daughter, Izabella finalized in December 2017), the two knew it was time to plan a long-term and secure future that focused on home, family, and work they loved. (Family: That’s a topic we’ll come back to!)
With our backgrounds in higher education – Mike with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and Sahag with Masters in both English and Creative Writing – it only made sense they would pursue their goals via an educational environment. At least that was the plan, until a potential career position with a move to Hawaii got sidetracked by the Kilauea volcano eruption and Hurricane Hector.
“Unsurprisingly, as a result of those events, the position was canceled,” explains Mike Luna. “That’s when Sahag and I started thinking in a new direction, and owning a franchise of our own had always been appealing. So, I began doing a lot of research and that led us to Island Fin Poke. As fate would have it, the more we learned, the more we fell in love with everything about it.” At that point in July 2019, the family relocated from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California to the Summerlin area of Las Vegas.
Sahag agrees, adding, “From our first trip to Florida to visit the original Island Fin Poke location, the entire experience was phenomenal. The atmosphere was fun and friendly, the menu was simple and based on high quality ingredients.
“But best of all, it was the feeling of “Ohana” we felt (“the family,” in Hawaiian) that meant the most. Our ‘Happy Place’ has always been Hawaii, and Island Fin is really connected to that culture. It was a product and a message we wanted to bring back to Las Vegas to share with others.”
When all the hurdles had been finally been met and the big opening took place in early 2020, who knew that less than two months later COVID-19 would arrive?
But Mike and Sahag didn’t let that deter them. Staying open for pick-up and delivery as allowed, they simply continued with their own brand of Ohana – making new friends, serving happy customers, being on-site and available to help their community find its way through these strange new times.
“In a funny way, it’s almost as if the changes caused by the coronavirus gave us more of an opportunity to help our new restaurant set deep roots here,” Mike reveals. “People wanted to support small, family-owned businesses, and we were able to connect with our customers in a more personal manner than a traditional restaurant setting would normally allow.
At the same time, Mike and Sahag, along with the assistance of the amazing team they hired, established their own new place in the community. “We knew we would be here for the long run,” says Sahag. “This is where we want to raise our kids, and Island Fin will also help to teach them new responsibilities when they get old enough to work with us. We even like the idea of them taking over someday, if that’s what they choose to do.
“But for now, we’re working hard to continue to make Island Fin Poke a success – meeting new people, creating that sense of Ohana to go along with great, healthy food. And hardly a day goes by that our customers don’t find our whole family sitting down to enjoy dinner together, right here at Island Fin…Ohana-style.”
So, for those who often wonder if things really do eventually turn out just as they should – stop into Island Fin Poke in the Boca Park shopping center. Mike, Sahag, and the rest of the family will be happy to chat with you about just how things worked out for them.
