Keenan's Verde Valley Culinary Expansion
Tool Frontman Maynard James Keenan Launches Queen B Sushi, Elevating Verde Valley's Culinary Scene
Key Points
Queen B Sushi will be located at 816 N. Main St., Old Town Cottonwood, AZ.
The culinary team bringing Queen B Sushi together includes Culinary Director Brett Vibber, with Chef Chuhiro “Thomas” Kato (trained under Nobu Matsuhisa and Masaharu Morimoto) and Chef Sheridan “Sher” Chase (Arizona native with experience in California and Texas).
The sushi concept for Queen B was developed in tandem with Queen B Vinyl Café; Vibber was already on staff and helped pivot the project from a shelved sushi idea to a standalone Queen B Sushi.
Beyond Queen B Sushi, Keenan also operates Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Cottonwood, expanding the Verde Valley wine-and-culture footprint.
Maynard James Keenan, the frontman of Tool and A Perfect Circle, has opened Queen B Sushi in Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona, with doors opening September 4. Chaos Zine reports the new restaurant sits at 816 N. Main St. and marks a bold expansion of his growing Verde Valley hospitality empire.
The sushi concept joins Queen B Vinyl Café and Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria under Keenan's local brand umbrella. The Music Universe notes Keenan and his wife Jennifer have been building this wine-and-culture destination since 2024.
A Chef Team Trained at the Highest Levels
The kitchen is led by Culinary Director Brett Vibber. He brought in two standout chefs to run the sushi program. 98KUPD reports that Chef Chuhiro "Thomas" Kato trained under two culinary legends: Nobu Matsuhisa and Masaharu Morimoto. Those are two of the most respected names in Japanese cuisine worldwide.
Alongside Kato is Chef Sheridan "Sher" Chase, an Arizona native who honed her skills in both California and Texas. Kill the Music notes that Vibber was already on Keenan's staff before the sushi idea took shape. He helped rescue the concept from a shelved plan and turn it into a standalone restaurant.
Keenan's Japan Love Affair Behind the Sushi Dream
Keenan's passion for sushi runs deep. He has often pointed to Tool's 2000 Japan tour as a turning point. Anti Music notes that Keenan has repeated one telling detail in multiple interviews: he carries titanium and hardwood travel chopsticks with him. That says a lot about how seriously he takes the food.
That long-standing love of Japanese cuisine is what made the sushi restaurant feel like a natural fit. The concept was developed alongside Queen B Vinyl Café, not as an afterthought. The Music Universe says the two Queen B concepts were built in tandem from early on.
Merkin Wines Pour Through Every Queen B Experience
Queen B Sushi will serve wines from Keenan's own labels: Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars. Both are based in the Verde Valley. 98KUPD reports the wine pairings are a deliberate part of the dining experience, not just an add-on. It ties the sushi restaurant directly to Keenan's decade-long wine project.
Merkin Vineyards also runs its own Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Cottonwood, giving Keenan multiple food-and-drink venues within the same small town. Chaos Zine says this growing footprint reflects a clear goal: make Cottonwood and the Verde Valley a serious destination for wine, food, and culture.
Verde Valley Becomes Keenan's Full-Time Side Project
Queen B Sushi is the latest piece in a much bigger puzzle. Keenan now runs a vinyl café, a sushi restaurant, and a winery trattoria all within Cottonwood's Old Town. Anti Music says the expansion shows a deliberate effort to build something lasting in Northern Arizona, far from the rock stage.
The Queen B brand — named after the queen bee — now spans coffee, vinyl, and raw fish. For a rock musician, it is an unusually hands-on business empire. Kill the Music confirms the September 4 opening date, placing Queen B Sushi firmly on the map as Cottonwood's most rock-and-roll dining experience.
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