Very warm atmosphere, a variety of consistently tasty options for heavier / lighter meals, and very nice service!

This place is underrated. Food is fresh and tasty and vibe is nice and mellow. Worth the slightly higher-than-average cost.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was genuinely awful. We spent nearly $100 on three curries--two chicken katsu and one vegetable--and the food arrived barely warm. The chicken katsu portions were shockingly small, more like fast-food nuggets tossed next to rice with a ladle of curry sauce and a few soggy pieces of lettuce. When I went back to speak with the manager/owner, she completely dismissed my concerns and blamed me for ordering takeout instead of trying to make it right. For the price, the quality and service were unacceptable. Deeply disappointing for a restaurant in Princeton. read more

This place is definitely laundering money. It's completely dead and the prices are Michelin Star expensive. Food is decent but so many better options. Service was decent. If I really didn't like someone I would recommend this place. read more

Just avoid this place at all costs. The noodles get all knotted. Chicken is salty and plain. Even for such DISGUSTING food, the waitress makes you wait for 20 min. And when you asked her how long you were gonna keep waiting, she pretended that she never heard you. Repeat the question, and she'll tell you if you are in a hurry, don't come to their restaurant they are not that kind of place. Right, don't come to this place. If you want to be satisfied with good food, get treated with respect and you believe your money is earned with your own hard work, don't come to this place. read more

The sashimi platter with rice and miso soup below cost me $58, including tip, I'll just leave that there. Little under $60 for 3 blocks of tuna, 2 blocks of salmon, 2 blocks of yellowfin, and a hair of uni + miso soup and rice for an additional $7.50. Rice was undercooked; miso soup was powdery nor ever replenished; the sashimi itself was not fresh and the salmon was overpowered by the lemon that they've decorated the platter with. I'm not sure if Ajiten was running out of uni because no restaurant has ever served me that morsel amount you see in the photo. The ambience of the place is very quiet when I was the only one there, but forget about privacy if you're sat next to someone because the seats are very, very close to each other. The saving grace of the place was the service...not really. The service was okay, and the servers were very polite and professional, but it definitely wasn't enough to be a redeeming factor. I had high hopes for Ajiten, but they've let me down considerably. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Sashimi Platter F + Miso soup/Rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Quite expensive, albeit real deal fish, bluefin, uni, various fish but for lunch we just want simple donburi or chirashi. At the prices, the shari and steamed rice could be much better, tamanishiki or tamaki gold. Atmosphere boring and basement. No music and too quiet. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Lunch, sashimi F, rice and soup is extra not included - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

My friends and I went here on a Sunday night. It's truly a hidden gem, we were the only ones here but it didn't feel awkward at all. We had our own corner and there was some light jazz playing in the background and the ambiance was great. I ordered the chirashi regular and the sashimi was very fresh! My friends ordered ramen and sushi and they were pleased as well. Our waitress was very friendly and fast. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Chirashi Regular - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

I have never given any bad reviews before, but this time is different. First of all, their uni was BAD and smelled funky. We've tasted uni in many other places to know that it was rotten or not well preserved. Their sashimi didn't look fresh as well. We asked the waitress about this, but instead of addressing the problem, she told us that the uni was from Japan and we just don't know how to appreciate it. Like, I don't know what she's thinking, but Japan uni can go bad too... Eventually, she decided to remove the bad uni from our dishes to solve the problem. While removing it, she was rude and angry and kept telling us we were wasting food...bruh... like what? How is it our fault when you are the one serving food that has gone bad? We left the restaurant spending so much money for a terrible meal and feeling victim-blamed. Later that night, two of our friends got a bad stomachache and threw up. I am truly speechless for this whole experience... We've actually dinned here many times before and got ok things like unagi don and ramen. But we will surely not return. If you choose to come to this place, just at least don't order sashimi or any sort of raw seafood here... and try to avoid any unnecessary communication with the waitress... read more

Can't really speak to the authenticity of this place, but Ajiten is a nice little place to come get a bowl of ramen when you're too lazy to make it yourself. Prices are on the higher end, and even more so because of COVID. Only about two tables available for dine-in, and it seems like they are trying to be careful. Broth was flavorful but nothing spectacular, good amount of noodles, and small portions of everything else. Overall the place is just meh, though I wish I could support it more during these times. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Tonkotsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Nice enough staff and the food is good but this place is way overpriced. $49.00 plus a tip for this? read more

I always try to support local Princeton businesses and restaurants and have enjoyed the excellent quality and pleasant service at Ajiten over the years. However, when I went to pick-up take our order, they charged 3.5% additional charge for using a credit card and another $5 for a bag since they do not provide paper bags. This would have not been an issue if it were stated on their website or when I ordered over the phone. Transparency please. I have enjoyed Ajihei and now Ajiten over the years. Superior quality. read more

Service was prompt, friendly, and knowledgeable. As the weather was not too hot, we sat outside and enjoyed the peaceful ambiance of the residential neighborhood, with free parking. The sushi was crafted to be eye-catching and delicious! Definitely will revisit in the near future. read more

I do not normally give negative reviews, especially if I have not tried the food. I am making an exception. I was excited to discover Ajiten and even more excited when I saw they had Uni (Sea Urchin) nigiri on the menu. I grew up in the West Indies eating sea urchins. https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/martinique/taste-of-the-caribbean-succulent-sea-urchin/ My busy work-from-home schedule usually makes it challenging to get out for lunch, even just for takeout. But today my schedule permitted me to try Ajiten for take-out. If I ordered close to opening time (11:45 AM) I would have just enough time for them to prepare my order and the restaurant is 10 minutes away. I called (11:50 AM) and got a voicemail message stating their hours. The same hours are already stated on the Google search page, the Yelp page, and Ajiten's website just next to the telephone number. I waited and called again (noon). Same response. I thought "maybe they don't use the phone". I drove into Princeton but there was no available parking on Chambers Street, none in Palmer Square. I drove around a few times before considering the Palmer Square deck and Spring Street deck but by this time, it was too late to place (12:15 PM) an order and still make it home to eat before my next meeting. I gave up and headed home. On the way home, I called again (12:20 PM) and this time someone did answer the phone. I get that it has been challenging for restaurants to find workers. But perhaps adjust the listed opening time to reflect reality or ... be open when you say you are open. read more

This by far the best sushi in the area-- great staff too! The fish is wonderfully fresh and well presented.

This poor review comes down to the service I received as the main concern, so if you're going to order take out from this place, you can likely keep scrolling (except for the fact the restaurant was out of wasabi when I ate there... that might effect you too) Long story short, after I was seated, the restaurant never waited on me. I was sitting for maybe 45 minutes or so and no one ever asked my party for our drink orders or food orders, so I eventually had to get their attention. I was seated near the front of the restaurant in a part not visible from the kitchen/ food preparation area, so it really felt like out of sight, out of mind with these people. To get their attention, I had to stand by the front desk. They never once checked up on my party (while I was there at least) It took maybe 20-30 minutes for my food once I had finally ordered. I ordered the Chirashi regular bowl, that was pretty good. I liked the sushi and the rice. However, my friend didn't get their food for a long time after that. In fact, I had another obligation I had to leave for before I could get one of my rolls and she could get her food. I really thought 1:30 hours would be enough to finish a meal instead of just receive all of it. Only reason this restaurant didn't receive a one star review was that the food was good, the part that I did try. I would not recommend gambling with where you are seated in this restaurant and the possible service you would possibly then receive. When my food came, I also had to ask for chopsticks. If you do go here, make sure you are seated somewhere visible from the kitchen or are prepared to leave your table to ask to be served anything. I do not plan to return to this restaurant personally. read more

This restaurant is definitely a hidden gem. The food is very clean and well plated. The ambience is very quiet and enhances the eating experience. It is covid friendly as well as a very good option for dine in. Highly recommended. read more

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The air is bad that I can barely open my eyes to finish whole meal. Food is overpriced. Service was fine.

Subterranean sushi? Yes, I love the concept. You have to walk down to the basement of a century-old building and enter a rather compact Japanese eatery with the familiar blond wood and quietly efficient staff. I think they should paint the walls a deep ocean blue and try a Finding Nemo motif. The animated fish can have provocative thought balloons that say "I hope you realize you're eating my cousin Shirley." Too much? Maybe that's why I didn't get that decorating job at HGTV. This is a lot better than the trendier-looking Mo C Mo C Sushi down the street. Ajihei bills itself as a Japanese deli, so I assume they must do bento boxes. Me? I was kinda hungry after a hard day at my company's Plainsboro office with a bag of chips for lunch, so I went to town. I first ordered the $6 Tatsuta Age (Japanese Fried Chicken) which were basically dark-meat McNuggets with a wedge of lemon instead of my beloved honey mustard sauce (see photo). They were still satisfying. Then I went for the $6 Tofu Salad, which was half-iceberg lettuce with shredded peppers and half-tofu sliced and splooged with a peanut and ginger dressing (see photo). It was more odd than good, but the tofu tasted quite fresh. The centerpiece, of course, was my main order, the $27 Sushi Deluxe selection which encompassed nine different kinds - tuna, mackerel, yellowtail, eel, salmon roe - and a tuna takkamaki roll (see photo). It was what I wanted, it was what I needed. Good and fresh. Service was unobtrusive as the server slipped in and out with the dishes like a phantom. I'm glad I found a sushi alternative in Princeton since pickin's are rather slim in these parts for fresh fish even if it is cousin Shirley. FOOD - 4 stars...finally found a good Japanese place in Princeton AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...a bit tight but clean and bright SERVICE - 3.5 stars...shhhh... TOTAL - 4 stars...oh I'd come back for some sushi when I'm in town read more

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An intimate and cosy space. A bit slow on service, but ramen was worth the wait. And, they even have lychee Ramune! read more

Food was not bad, but service was absolutely terrible and the server was very rude. We had been waiting 20+ minutes for the food, and so we politely asked how much longer the food might take (since one member of our party had to leave soon). Instead of answering the question, the server got upset and told us that we shouldn't have come to this restaurant if we were in a rush. Bad service. Food is expensive. Not worth it. read more

It's still overpriced, but now that the menu has shifted to almost focusing entirely on cooked items, it feels a lot less expensive. The ramen is a good deal for Princeton, and definitely the best ramen you'll get in the area. I really liked their taipan chicken ramen, which was very very savory and came with a good variety of toppings. Definitely add the egg, it's nicely soft boiled and flavored by soy sauce. Unfortunately it's obvious that all the toppings are prepared far in advance as my toppings were cold to eat. The noodles are similar to instant ramen noodles, but I actually like that since I like that kind of noodle. I also liked their cooked salmon ikura Don, but it's severely overpriced. I found it less impressive the second time I got it, but I think the chef was out that day. All in all, still overpriced but best ramen option in town. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Taipan Chicken Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Came here with a dining companion for date night. We're both huge sushi fanatics and were super psyched to check out Ajihei, especially after being disappointed at the other options for sushi around Princeton. We had an assortment of sushi and sashimi (eel, caviar, sea urchin, spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, spicy salmon) and they were as fresh and amazing as I'd expected it to be. My only complaint was that the sea urchin was a little fishy. The seafood here is on a completely different level than the other sushi places around town. But for such a huge mark up in price, I was also a little disappointed. The rice was really not up to par... it wasn't that sticky warm sushi rice that you'd have and expect at higher end sushi places. It tasted like a second-rate NYC place unfortunately. All in all the best place in town for sushi, but I'd still go to New York if you're gonna pay top dollar for sushi anyway (cite: Sushi Gallery - best value, better sushi and cheaper). As for the service and pacing and troubles with getting seated. I guess we were lucky. We had pretty good service and pacing - nothing out of the ordinary. As for getting seated, since we were open to sitting at the bar and only a party of 2, it was hassle-free. Since it wasn't a busy night, as we were waiting for our sushi, a table opened up and we moved over without any problems. They really deserve four stars for the food, but I'm docking them one for price. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - eel, caviar, sea urchin, spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, spicy salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Ate here a couple of months back to satisfy my ramen craving! Surprise, surprise, the ramen noodle was spaghetti noddles...bad. Will never go back here, place gives Jap restaurants bad rap. read more

We ordered two sashimi platters and a seaweed salad and paid about $60 (with tip). Incredibly overpriced for both the quantity (tiny portions!) and quality (it was fine, but I've had better). Also, the "seaweed" salad was about 10 pieces of seaweed sitting on a heap of iceberg lettuce. I picked up our order and after seeing the amount of fish, called in an order with Sakura Express that was literally half the price for the same amount of fish to supplement our dinner. I don't mind splurging on high-quality, tiny-portion, pricey sushi once in a while, but this is not that. Very disappointing. I'd stick to Sakura or Tomo while in town. read more

Someone told me that this was the best ramen place near the university. I don't know if that's true, but it's not that good. Shoyu ramen + salmon avocado roll ($10 + $8) The broth had way too much soy sauce and was not drinkable. Like previous reviews say, it does not come with an egg, so without any add-ons it feels underwhelming with the toppings. The sushi was okay, nothing spectacular. Tonkotsu ramen ($12) I thought the broth was okay, and I got an egg for $1.50 since it didn't come with the ramen. For both, the pork tasted over cooked. Other notes: Very small location, feels intimate and cozy. The waitress was friendly and prompt. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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I wanted to like this hole in the basement but i should have gotten the first hint when i called for reservations when i got rude responses. ok i can get beyond that since finding good fish on a sunday might be questionable, so we opted to give it a try. The ankimo was not creamy - bummer. They were out of some of their selections of fish and tamago and their dishes lacked presentation. I do give credit to the salmon and otoro sashimi- oishi! Although, nothing fancy or original here- they won't even do aburi. And heads up for you sake lovers- there is none here, in fact, there is no alcohol. We wanted to hold on to the menu for more ordering but was told they needed the menu for other guests (there was only one other couple in the entire restaurant?) Sadly, a little pricey for what you get. read more

Ah, where to start. Two friends and I were hungry for lunch and we wanted to try something new--aka. Ajiten. Big mistake. I don't think I've ever left a restaurant so peeved. We ordered sushi--two shrimp tempura avocadoes and one salmon avocado roll. Each roll cost around $10-$13 each. They gave us 5 pieces for each roll. I each sushi pretty often but I've never seen a place charge so much for such a measly portion  and for subpar sushi at that. I don't know what they breaded the shrimp with but it sure wasn't tempura--I've eaten enough to know, thanks. The salmon was funky and gray in some parts (for those who don't know: that means it's going bad) which is concerning since this is RAW SALMON. The food did not taste good to say the least which is disappointing considering what we paid for it. Also, the waitress was lowkey sort of rude and  very clearly did not want to do her job. At one point we asked to get the check split and she straight up refused and said that if we wanted it split, we should have sat at the bar and not the table. Since she was clearly capable of splitting it if she wanted to, I can only assume that she didn't want to do a any extra work or just wouldn't be bothered. Honestly, if you want sushi, just go to Nassau Sushi or Sakura Express instead. If you want Ramen, there's always Kungfu Noodle House, Purinsu Ramen, or Ramen Stop. All these places are within 5-10 minutes of walking distance from Ajiten and they'll give you a much better experience. read more

there was a rough patch when owner took break on sushi, but this has returned to serving the best sushi in princeton, hands down, nothing against the other guys, wish them all well. read more

Was able to call ahead for a spot for 2. Didn't have to wait once we got there. Delicious food and good services. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Ajiten is still my number one sushi restaurant in New Jersey. Fresh and delicious! You might be surprised by the price. But if you are looking for best quality sushi, you have come to the right place. read more

What a terrible experince. The fish was not fresh, the waitress had a sour demeanor, and to top it all off, they do not allow paying customers to use their restroom (staff only). We rarely dine out, and it was such a bummer to experiment this. Save your money, and go somewhere where they actually want your business. read more

This is hands down the best sushi place in downtown Princeton! Could potentially be the best sushi place I've ever been to in general as well (avid sushi lover). It is a small place with limited seating and a bit more expensive than standard sushi places but the quality of fish cannot compare! It does take a little while to receive your food because everything is freshly made to order. They do not rush you out so you can truly relax and enjoy your food. Their miso soup is exquisite and so flavorful. Everything I have eaten here has been top notch and you can tell everything is made fresh. Make a reservation to be sure to have a seat especially on the weekends. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Salmon Sashimi, Chu Toro Sashimi, Yellowtail Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Upgrading my review due to the lack of competition in central NJ and a narrow range of selection offered in this area. read more

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I had the shoyu ramen (10) with an additional egg (+1.50). My friend had the miso ramen with an egg. With the snow this past weekend, we were looking forward to a large bowl of steaming ramen! They also gave us hot ceramic cups of green tea, which were very welcome. The broth was unexpectedly light, but I really enjoyed it -- it reminded me of broth my mom used to make for me. The toppings on the ramen (the egg, bamboo shoots, pork) were delicious!! But there was unfortunately too little of them (especially since I had to pay for the egg), and in proportion to the ramen, I finished them off far too quickly. I wish they also had a spicy flavor option, but otherwise was very happy with my bowl - however, it would not be my very top choice for ramen. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

I tried to make a reservation at this restaurant and had the rudest interaction with the manager working here. When I tried to make a reservation for a certain day and time, the manager said "Why does your family keep calling us" in a very condescending tone. Mind you this is the first time I am calling this restaurant. I understand that this could have been a misunderstanding, but they could have asked if I was the other party before trying to start a conflict with me. She even lied and said that my number was on record calling multiple times, AND THEN proceeded to ask me what my number was. When she realized that my number called for the first time, she did not even apologize. She sighed and tried to make the reservation for me. I decided not to make my reservation. read more

Saving the best review for last! My friend Brandon wanted to take me to this place for a while now. Since my birthday just passed last weekend, we celebrated with sushi for dinner! Arriving fairly early, around 6pm, the restaurant was already filling up. A small quaint little sushi restaurant with one sushi chef behind a small kitchen bar and a couple of waitresses tended to each section. We started off with a hijiki and watercress salad, then miso soup, and moved on to a sashimi platter deluxe. The fish was cut perfectly and came with a few extra pieces then the 2 pieces per fish listed on the menu. I was happy with that. The tuna was Blue Fin, and the salmon was more like salmon belly? All of it was fresh. I'm not a big Uni fan, but I still managed to take a piece and enjoy it. We also shared one giant roll. The Rainbow Roll. It consists of tuna, salmon, lobster salad and avocado? It was so big and if I ordered it for myself, I probably would not even be able to finish half of it. 10 HUGE pieces. It should be called a Monster Roll eh? The staff was really friendly. Had to ask for the green tea to be refilled, but thats ok. If this is the best place for sushi in Princeton, I believe it! NO RESERVATIONS! Come early, long wait on weekends during peak hours. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Sashimi Deluxe! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Pricey, but decent sushi. I really like their Hokkuai (Hokkai?) don. I usually get chirashi bowls, but that's because they don't have the specific sashimi I like. The Hokkuai don is my perfect bowl: salmon, scallop, ikura, and uni. Aside from amaebi, those are literally all my favorite sashimi. Unfortunately, it's $29 and they give you way too much rice. The uni is also weird...maybe I'm used to fresh California uni, but Ajihei's uni was weirdly anemic and tiny. The flavor wasn't as creamy or briny as I like. The scallop was good. The salmon wasn't as fatty or tender as I had hoped. The ikura was good. The idea of this dish is so perfect, but the quality of their execution was not. The pork katsu curry is okay here. It's not as pricy as their sushi, only $15 i think, but not worth the price. The pork is borderline dry, and the salad does not go with the curry. The chicken karaage is also borderline dry, not the deliciously tender fried chicken I was hoping for. The tonkotsu ramen is probably okay for people who've never had tonkotsu ramen before. It's not as rich or flavorful as most are, and the toppings leave a lot to be desired. Also, the seating situation. They only have one 4-person table, so we ended up sitting at the bar. That's fine, but it's the meh sushi that leaves me thinking I might not return here anytime soon. read more

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I'm not sure why it took me 6 years to try this restaurant. Location? Pros: -Pleasant & prompt service, no having to ask for tea & water refills -Great quality fish--even *I* liked the mackerel -relaxed & clean -sticky sushi rice was perfect -UNI! -my son & I were happily satiated, not overstuffed as we often will become w/sashimi -sushi rice was truly awesome -tables limited to 4. This might be a con for some, but it's nice not having to deal with a giant, loud, party in such an intimate setting. That said, it also means I can only have lunch w/friends if at least one of us gets a babysitter Cons -no high chairs (we used the carrier to strap my toddler to a seat) -not sure why tamago & ebi were included in the chirashi, though looking up on Dr.Google, it's not uncommon even though it's the first time in 30 years I've had either in chirashi -no sashimi platter (hence I ordered chirashi) -dinner & lunch menu are the same ( ie pricy for lunch), but there are 4 non-sushi lunch specials for $11 -musak. I prefer any Japanese music--pop, traditional--when eating Japanese food We had a nice lunch. Were we still hungry, I would have ordered the $11 fried salmon lunch w/avocado cucumber roll, salad, & miso. The portion appeared small, but it was so very satisfying. Little Man ate well. I ate well. We left happy. They packed up the leftover rice for me & I'd love to go back to try their lunch specials. Compared to the other places in Princeton: -Sakura: big, sloppy pieces, smelly, cheap -Tomo: we love Mark San. Our go to place, even w/kids. His octopus & squid are amazing. -Mo C Mo C: rude. Cute place, but I won't return. -Nassau Sushi: mediocre sushi & disappointing Korean, but it's pan-Asian, so that is to be expected $30 before tip: chirashi+uni, edamame, green tea included. read more

Ajiten Japanese Restaurant - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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I called ahead of time to reserve and the woman didn't want to be bothered to take my name. i dropped off my wife and friend who is recovering from surgery so they wouldn't have to walk. After parking the car and walking back to the restaurant I found them standing by the door because the woman wouldn't let them sit down until the entire party arrived. The restaurant was completely empty except for three people at one table. She finally agreed to let them sit down and I asked her very politely to heat our bottle of sake. She looked at me like I asked her to paint my house. She then proceeded to yell at us for reacting incredulously to her resistance to do her job. Now you know why you don't need reservations on a night where most restaurants in Princeton are full. I didn't think any restaurant owner could be more obnoxious than the previous owner (Ajihei) but this woman is a nightmare. I feel bad for the sushi chef because the sushi and sashimi here is really good. We'll never go back. Usually this woman is busy screwing up take out orders so in the past we were luckier in getting an actual waiter. Luckily we went to Elite Five and had a very nice meal and served by thoughtful professional waitstaff. I'm sure it's just a short while until they have alienated the last of their clientele and they will go out of business. read more