Jay Rayford is a Detroit-based entrepreneur with a history of building brands that bring people together. With a strong background in community engagement, project management, and brand development, he has spent over a decade creating meaningful experiences that leave lasting impressions.
Before launching SushiRitas, Jay founded Social Sushi—a grassroots concept that brought sushi to the people through pop-ups, fundraisers, and immersive events. He curated more than 100 experiences that blended food, culture, and connection. That work taught him how to build trust, earn loyalty, and create something bigger than just a business.
Jay’s leadership style is hands-on, collaborative, and purpose-driven. He brings vision and structure, but also knows how to empower others to lead. He’s built a trusted team that includes experienced sushi chefs, restaurant operators, and strategic advisors—all aligned around a shared mission.
Jay plans to work on-site as General Manager for the first three years—personally helping to shape the culture, build the team, and develop the next leader who will manage day to day while Jay focuses on growing the brand. He believes that culture doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through presence, consistency, and example.
So far, Jay has:
- Secured a prime location in Midtown Detroit
- Raised early capital and attracted investor interest
- Built strong partnerships with property owners, lenders, and community programs
- Recruited a talented launch team, including two veteran sushi chefs
- Established supplier relationships, equipment procurement, and a scalable operations plan
- Received support from programs like Motor City Match, MBBA, Operations School and Build Institute
While this is his first time launching a full-scale restaurant brand, Jay approaches the challenge with discipline, humility, and a deep commitment to learning. He invests in systems, mentorship, and personal growth to keep moving the business forward—with scalability in mind from day one.
At the core of Jay’s work is one belief: we’re #BetterTogether. That mindset shows up in everything he builds—from the team culture to the customer experience.