RIP

Bil Rieger, Kenichi Founder, Commits Suicide at 50

Bil Rieger. [Photo: Lynn Goldsmith for The Aspen Times]

Kenichi founder Bil Rieger was found dead in his Aspen apartment Tuesday in an apparent suicide by hanging. The restauranteur is perhaps most famous for founding the chain of Kenichi sushi restaurants. Rieger opened the first Aspen Kenichi in 1991 with no experience in opening and running a restaurant. A decade later, he expanded his business to Texas with Kenichi locations in Austin and Dallas. According to the Statesman, Rieger told then-restaurant critic Dale Rice that he was "happy to be bringing a taste of California to Texas."

Austin's Kenichi recently underwent a renovation this past year, bringing back founding chef Shane Shark, who had left the restaurant prior to returning this year.

· Kenichi founder dead at 50 [The Aspen Times]
· Kenichi founder discovered dead in Aspen [Statesman]
· All Kenichi Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]