Mama Fu's closes last S.C. site

South Carolina no longer has a Mama Fu's.

The Austin, Texas-based chain closed its Asian cuisine restaurant near Mount Pleasant Towne Centre with little notice Sunday night. It was the last Mama Fu's in the state.

Employees were busy Monday dismantling the business and packing up perishable food items for Crisis Ministries and nonperishable items for the Lowcountry Food Bank.

About 30 or so employees at the eatery were notified Friday that the restaurant would close two days later.

Located at 1795 U.S. Highway 17, it was the second local Mama Fu's to close. Last fall, another one closed on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley.

The local Mama Fu's franchise is owned by Cary Chastain, who also owns the Moe's Southwest Grill franchise in the Charleston area.

He could not be reached for comment Monday. An employee at the shuttered Mama Fu's declined to say why the restaurant was closed, referring questions to Chastain.

Mamu Fu's marketing director Marcia Oakes said the owner has decided to pursue other ventures and is no longer operating any Mama Fu's restaurants.

"We do hope to return to South Carolina and Charleston in the near future and are actively seeking qualified franchise partners in the area," Oakes said.

Mama Fu's is part of Murphy Adams Restaurant Group and has 12 remaining restaurants in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. The company hopes to have 150 restaurants by 2013.