INDIANAPOLIS — A staple on the east side of Indianapolis will reopen its doors in January.
Fast Wok Restaurant first closed a year-and-a-half ago when the owner got sick. They reopened last week, but not for long, closing after only two days.
The owner announced on Facebook that she was tired and didn't feel safe after she said police were called five times for customers fighting in long lines.
Thursday, the owner's husband, Gaylon Nettles, told 13News his wife plans to reopen the restaurant in January, but they are not giving a specific date to avoid what happened when they reopened earlier this month.
That's when lines ran out the door and down the street last week, with people waiting hours in line just to order.
The 80-year-old owner, affectionally called "Mama" by the restaurant's loyal customers who had been coming there for decades, announced she was closing Fast Wok's doors again, saying on Facebook that there had been several fights.
The last one, she said, was inside the restaurant when someone got mad about someone possibly cutting in line and reached for his pocket, like he might pull out a gun.
That's when Mama closed down and locked the doors.
No one was hurt, and a gun was never pulled, but it was enough that Mama decided to close down for good, she told customers on social media.
"Very disappointed," said John Bray, who drove by Fast Wok Thursday afternoon.
Bray had waited to come to the restaurant to avoid long lines and was upset to find out the restaurant had closed again.
"She's been in my life for 35 years, and it was just an icon of the city, and it's a shame she's having technical difficulties," Bray said.
It wasn't just the food that brought Bray back each time — it was Mama's love for the east side and the people who live there.
"Like, Thanksgiving, OK, she would give out no-charge on Thanksgiving. She'd give you your meal. Anybody. Everybody. She's a very good pillar in the community," Bray said.
"She gave jobs to people, too. We need to give jobs to people so they can have something to look forward to every day," said customer Brian Woods, who said he'll be the first in line when Fast Wok reopens again. "I miss her. I hope she comes back."
Mama's husband said she will be back, this time with off-duty police officers working security and crowd control.