Landrum will miss the flare and spice that owner Debbie Briggs brings to Zenzera when the restaurant closes its doors Feb. 28, but Joy and Mike Southern plan to re-open the restaurant on May 1 under a new name, using the formula that has brought success to Kyoto in Tryon.

The restaurant, located in Landrum’s historic Fagan’s Dry Good building, has kept its original tin ceilings and pine floors, and those floors have been the site of many Saturday night dances.

Zenzera specialized in bringing live music and dancing to Landrum, and the Southerns intend to keep live music there.

“Jim Peterman’s band has been our house band at Kyoto, and we plan to keep it that way,” Mike Southern said. “We’ll have live music on Friday and Saturday, and Jim will be in charge of our sound system and acoustics.”

Kyoto Restaurant will relocate from Tryon to the Landrum location, keeping the Thai food that has brought many loyal customers and adding new choices for an American Asian fusion cuisine, Southern said.

It will remain a family business, though as Joy’s sister, brother, sister-in-law and nieces have been employees of Kyoto since she bought the restaurant two years ago, creating authentic Thai cuisine.

They’re eager to embrace the challenge of a new location, Southern said.

“We especially want to stress how much we appreciate our Tryon customers and hope they will come to the new location,” Southern said. “It was strictly a business decision. We tried to find other places in Tryon. This location also will attract customers from Spartanburg, Greer and the surrounding area.”

Briggs has enjoyed owning and operating Zenzera Restaurant, but she’s ready for a change and anticipates a more relaxed lifestyle in future days.

“I already talked to a girlfriend of mine and I’m going to walk twice a week,” Briggs said. “I’ll get to hike again with my husband. We used to hike together all the time and we haven’t had time for so long. I haven’t had a vacation in five years.”

She has friends in Austria, several places in France, Oregon, Florida, St. Thomas, St. John and more.

“I have so many places I could go,” she said.

Briggs has requested that people share their happy memories of times in Zenzera with her. She plans to put customers’ photos on the walls so everyone can reminisce.

“We still have a week of great food, great bands – lots of dancing and great spirits left!” Briggs wrote in a letter to her customers. “So come on out and help me go out with a big bang!”