After five years, the Osteria Cicchetti restaurant location in Monkey Junction has closed and another restaurant is expected to open under new ownership.

The restaurant at 5104 S. College Road, which was opened by Circa Restaurant Group owner Ash Aziz in a building that previously housed an O'Charley's, served its last meal as Osteria Cicchetti in Monkey Junction on Saturday.

The owners of King Neptune's restaurant in Wrightsville Beach, Danny and Earl McPherson, are expected to buy the business, with more details anticipated soon about their concept for the location and reopening timeline.

Aziz said Monday that with five other restaurants in operation in Wilmington and another planned downtown, his own plate has been full and it was time to lighten his load.

"It's been a very good run for us, but it's been five years, and the opportunity came up" to sell, Aziz said.

His other restaurants are Circa 1922, Boca Bay, Brasserie du Soleil, Osteria Cicchetti in The Forum on Military Cutoff Road and Pizzeria il Forno at The Pointe at Barclay. A restaurant planned for River Place, the mixed-use development replacing the Water Street Parking deck in downtown Wilmington, has not yet been named, but more details could be finalized for that new eatery, a major project for Aziz, by early next year, Aziz said.

The 6,600-square-foot Monkey Junction restaurant is expected to reopen soon under its new ownership, according to an Osteria Cicchetti in Monkey Junction Facebook post.

While the restaurant business is chaniging hands, the property is owned by ZP No. 116 LLC, a Zimmer family company.