Meet Marco Levy Bibas | Founder of Yūbi Box Sushi

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marco Levy Bibas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marco, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my own business because, in layman’s terms, I hated working for people and being told what to do. Therefore, from a young age I always knew I would be an entrepreneur, however Yūbi Box Sushi was born out of market demands. I knew I wanted to open a restaurant but I was not set on a specific cuisine or business model. Yet, the pandemic (COVID-19) changed a lot of things, including the food industry, and I saw a huge opportunity for sushi, more specifically delivery-only sushi. Growing up in Miami, I was familiar with our local sushi offerings, but after spending four years in NYC post-college, I saw what a proper sushi offering could be and we were missing that in Miami. We were missing the delivery-only sushi concept with amazing fish, simple ingredients, and an overall experience that made it worth the price – which is everything Yūbi Box Sushi is.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Yūbi’s biggest differentiating factor is our commitment to quality and experience. We truly believe that delivery does not mean having zero experience, which is why we try to create a restaurant experience in the comfort of your own home, through our branding and packaging. From your first impression of our website and delivery bag, you are already transported to a “Yūbi Experience.” As soon as you open the sushi box, you are prompted with a QR code that takes you to a curated Spotify playlist to set the mood while you enjoy your meal.

Aside from providing a top quality experience, I am most excited about our new items and how we are able to accommodate almost all dietary restrictions. We just rolled out “El Don,” which is our “Make-Your-Own-Hand Roll” box, and we are in the process of rolling out a plant-based salmon for our vegan and vegetarian customers!

Professionally, I got to where I am today in my business by taking things one step at a time. No one ever tells you all the hiccups or obstacles that you are going to run into when you start your own business. The most important advice I received when I started my business was to take things one step at a time and enjoy every second of it, which I work on doing every day. Finally, the most valuable lesson I have learned is that things will never go as planned, so you have to be flexible and able to change course, even if sometimes you may have to take a few detours to get to your final destination.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Weekends start on Thursday (just ask any millennial!), and we are most definitely eating sushi from Yūbi Box and having a chill night on South Beach – maybe even relax at a few local lounges or bars. On Friday, we would wake up and get pastelitos and coladas from Enriquetas, and then walk around Wynwood and Midtown. For dinner, we are most likely cooking a feast and having friends over. Then, on Saturday, we would get brunch at Zuma, and end the night at Osaka, LPM or MaryGold’s!

Regardless of the plan, we will definitely be eating a lot – probably way too much – but that’s what happens when you have chef friends! 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to my parents — both my mom and dad – for various reasons but most importantly because they have always supported my dream of becoming a restaurateur from the young age of eight years old. Regardless of what my passion was, they supported me 1000% and then some – as long as I was getting better and on track to become the best. Additionally, over the last year, they have been right by my side through the entire process of building Yūbi Box Sushi. Many entrepreneurs share the same sentiment – starting a business on your own is one of the most lonely processes you can ever endure, which really surprised me. I never expected it to be so lonely, and I am extremely thankful for my support system that allowed me to make those tough decisions with a clear mind. Lastly, I want to give an extra shout out to my mom for being a rockstar and always willing to help no matter how big or small the role is. She wears many hats at Yūbi including, but not limited to: Corporate Outreach Partner, Human Resource, Chief Taste Tester, Idea Generator, and so many more!

Website: https://www.yubiboxsushi.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/yubiboxsushi?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552114889478&mibextid=9R9pXO

Image Credits
Yubi Box Sushi