Cullman native Joe Ragsdale is about to see a dream come true when his company opens a Rock n Roll Sushi restaurant later this year.

A co-owner in the franchise restaurant group, Ragsdale said the eatery — specializing in sushi and other Asian specialties — is expected to open by Sept. 1. The location in Cullman will be announced later.

Lee and Brooke Black of Cullman will own the franchise, he said.

“There seems to be a lot of excitement and we’re glad to see the response,” Ragsdale said. “While our main focus is sushi, we do offer other well-prepared dinners such as hibachi and fried rolls for those who prefer those dishes or want the alternative.”

Rock n Roll Sushi recently opened its 22nd restaurant, in Gadsden, and has 42 more immediately planned.

“We’ve had a tremendous response. We’re from Texas, right now, all the back east through Florida,” Ragsdale said.

Keeping with the the rock ‘n’ roll theme, diners choose their dinners from menus crafted out of old album covers. Anything from the Rolling Stones to Journey or Pearl Jam can make up the menus.

“That’s been a fun part of the venture, the album covers,” Ragsdsale. “It’s a lot of fun to hear the customers talking about which menu they have and whether they had that album or another years ago.”

Ragsdale graduated from Cullman High School and the University of Alabama and became a sales representative for Wyndham Vacation Resorts and soon became director of sales. He then joined Hilton Grand Vacations in Las Vegas, before returning to the South and becoming a co-owner in Rock n Roll Sushi.

The company was founded by Lance Hallmark and Gerry Mach before Ragsdale joined the team.

“We have a lot of confidence in Rock n Roll Sushi. The reception has been tremendous across the region and being able to do this in Cullman is something I hoped would happen,” Ragsdale said.