Beloved Chris’ Deli closing for now after 40 years in Charlotte. It hopes to reopen.

A beloved decades-old sandwich shop in Charlotte is closing, but is planning to reopen.

Chris’ Deli Restaurant at 3619 E. Independence Blvd. posted a sign in the front window on Wednesday announcing “Thursday, April 16, will be our last day. Thanks for 40 great years.”

Late Wednesday, the restaurant posted on Facebook that said: “We anticipate re-opening at a new location in the near future!”

“We look forward to serving you again soon! We are feeling the love and without you it wouldn’t be possible!” the post said.

A photo Wednesday shows a line stretching out the door (with people staying 6-feet apart). More than 100 fans of the restaurant online said things like “breaks my heart,” “this is sad,” and “been coming here since I was a kid.”

Many restaurants have been forced to close during the new coronavirus crisis under various local and state restrictions, although some have shifted to take-out only.

The deli owner is Christos Kotrotsios, according to North Carolina business registration.

Efforts to reach him for comment Wednesday and Thursday morning have been unsuccessful.

This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Beloved Chris’ Deli closing for now after 40 years in Charlotte. It hopes to reopen.."