One of Wilmington’s most loved restaurants, Flaming Amy’s Bowl, has permanently shut its doors.

“It is so heartbreaking,” said Amanda Limbaugh, executive assistant for Flaming Amy’s restaurants. “It was not an easy decision. We hate disappointing people, but it's not possible to continue running three restaurants.”

Flaming Amy’s Bowl initially closed in May of 2020 in what was hoped to be a temporary situation in response to the pandemic. Though the restaurant, which featured buffet-style dining, eventually tried providing takeout meals, it never gained a sustainable amount of business, according to Limbaugh. Low customer turnout was compounded by the current staffing issues and supply chain problems as well as ownership upheavals.

As a result, what was meant to be a temporary shuttering of the business has become a permanent solution.

Flaming Amy’s Bowl, which was hidden in a corner of Long Leaf Mall, wasn't the easiest place to find, but once discovered, customers remained loyal fans. They enjoyed its unique build-your-own stir-fry buffet as well as the chance to interact with the cooks.

“Children and adults loved watching their bowl come together,” said Limbaugh. “It was a unique concept.”

After opening in 2008, the restaurant began franchising in 2015, with the opening of a second Bowl location in North Chase, which later closed in 2018. 

Flaming Amy’s has two Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barns in operation: its flagship location off Oleander Drive and one in Carolina Beach. There, customers can still get a stir-fry option and a couple of the Bowl’s sauces, but the wide selection of toppings and the personalized chats with the cooks will be missing.

There are no plans to reopen Flaming Amy’s Bowl in the future. The owners are willing to sell the business, but they are not aggressively pursuing that action, according to Limbaugh.

The owners of Flaming Amy’s Bowl, Amy and Jay Muxworthy, recognize that closing the restaurant is a real loss for its many fans, who miss its one-of-a-kind stir-fry fare and atmosphere.

“It’s so overwhelming to see how the community has supported all of our businesses since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Limbaugh. “We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and love, and we miss all our customers terribly.”