Longtime Chinese restaurant closes in T.O.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers CLOSED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN—A popular Chinese eatery on the north side of Thousand Oaks, Chen's Restaurant, closed on Sept. 30. Workers showed up, but the doors were locked. Disappointed customers, expecting to eat Chinese food, instead lined up outside Chen's Szechwan Restaurant at 2024 E. Avenida de Los Arboles in the Vons shopping center to read a letter taped to the door.

"We regret to inform you that Chen's Restaurant will be permanently closed as of Sept. 30, 2008. We have decided to retire after 26 years of joyful service to our local patrons," began the note signed by owners Tony and Lin Chen.

"We don't know of any other good places to eat here in Thousand Oaks," said Laura Modrzejewski as she and her husband, Jeff, walked away from the restaurant.

The Thousand Oaks residents, who've lived nearby since August, headed over to Vons.

"We'll just go buy groceries to take home and cook dinner for ourselves," she said.

"I've come here for 20 years," said Thousand Oaks resident Tom Baum.

At the dry cleaners next door, Jessica Lackey said she cried on Sept. 29 when the Chens made their announcement. "I've known them all of mlife, and I've eaten there, the besChinese food I've ever had, twica week," Lackey said. The front door was locked. Nmore broccoli beef, dynastchicken, fried sesame balls, crystal shrimp or mu shu pork. Nmore Tony's specials. Put away thchopsticks. The Kung Pao luncdish for $7.95, served on a tablcovered with a crisp white linetablecloth, is just a memoryFramed photos of local celebritiewill no longer be added to the wal

Manager Victor Shih, brother of Lin Chen, said the rent was getting so high it was hard to make a profit. He and another sibling, a brother, are planning to open a new restaurant sometime in the future, he said.

Lin Chen said her husband has worked his whole life and been a chef for decades, working every day for years with no time off and no vacations, and it is time for him to retire.

"We've sacrificed everything. We need a break," she said.