ASHEVILLE - Sept. 3 will be the last day of business for Doc Chey's Noodle House in downtown Asheville. After 15 years, the popular fast-casual Asian restaurant is closing.

That's according to Ellie Feinroth, who opened the restaurant in 2002 with business partner Brook Messina.

Messina was one of the founders of Doc Chey's in Atlanta, where the restaurant has three locations. None will be affected by the Asheville shop's closing.

"We've had a good run for 15 years, and it's just time," said Feinroth, who was a white-water rafting guide for the Nantahala Outdoor Center before delving into the food world.

"Nothing lasts forever. It's time for change. We've been sole owners and have been on the schedule working every day since we opened 15 years ago."

A decade and a half of service can grind a person down. So can the search for help in such a competitive restaurant town.

"Staffing is a pretty major issue in Asheville, and it didn't used to be this way," she said. "There's one restaurant that hired someone without even meeting that person. People are pretty desperate for staff, especially good kitchen people."

Feinroth, 61, wants to end on a positive note, though she acknowledged the closure is hard on her. "We couldn't have done it without our loyal customers who come in, and just keep coming in," she said.

For those people, Feinroth has two words: "Thank you."

Doc Chey's Asheville location employs 35 people. Feinroth said the majority will remain until the last day of service but will be looking for work.

Feinroth owns the building at 37 Biltmore Ave., and said she has no plans to sell. The restaurant space, however, will be available for lease after Doc Chey's closes.

She also rents out several apartments in the building. Those tenants will be unaffected, other than the soon-to-be lack of readily accessible and cheap noodle suppers.

Starting Aug. 7, Doc Chey's will no longer be open for lunch. After that, hours will be 4-10 p.m., Monday, Thursday and Sunday; 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday, until the restaurant's final day on Sept. 3.

Feinroth offered her personal number for questions about the restaurant's closing. Questions about leasing will be answered in late September: 404-788-4423.

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