When Ren Wen Noodle Factory opened in early March, its owners and managers said they wanted to bring “noodle culture” to Great Neck Plaza.
But now, four months later, the restaurant appears to be looking at a different approach.
“Thank you for your support since our grand opening,” a sign on the door of the Great Neck Road eatery reads. “Based on your feedback, we will be temporarily closing this location to readjust our restaurant to better meet your needs.”
Its menu included a variety of small plates, dumplings, broth noodle bowls and sauce noodle bowls like the lightning pork bowl, which featured 10 piece noodles, Vidalia onion, minced pork and Sichuan peanuts.
At the time of its opening Mario Arena, the vice president of operations and culinary development for Ren Wen Noodle Factory, said the restaurant would likely be the first of many and that a location would open in June in Forest Hills, Queens.
“We love the people here, we love the culture, and we’re here to stay,” Arena previously said.
Arena was not immediately available for comment on Monday.
Alice Mok, the vice president of marketing and finance for Ren Wen Noodle Factory, was also not available for comment on Monday.
Jay Corn, the vice president of the Business Improvement District of Great Neck Plaza, said he couldn’t speak directly of Ren Wen Noodle Factory. But there has been an influx of Asian eateries, he said.
“Maybe the market will catch up with it, but right now I don’t think we have enough demand for all these Asian restaurants,” he said.
There are more than 10 Asian-themed restaurants in Great Neck Plaza, according to the Great Neck Plaza Improvement District’s website, although it’s unclear when it was last updated.
Among those eateries are China Wok, Daruma of Tokyo, Elaine’s, Ippon Cuisine, Laverne of Great Neck, Matsuya, Mizu, New Fu Run, Saaho Village, Wild Ginger and Krung Tep Thai Bistro.