Asian Seoul’s Copa Kitchen in Maricopa will close for good on Aug. 9, according to InMaricopa. Saturday will be the restaurant’s final day of regular service, followed by a Sunday giveaway of the remaining food at no charge.
Owner Charlotte Stessel said the decision is not tied to the business itself, but to family needs. She said her mother and mother-in-law, both in their 80s, need care, and she wants to spend time helping them rather than continuing to work seven days a week.
Stessel said the restaurant became more than a place to eat, describing it as a gathering spot where customers treated one another like family. She pointed to community details such as a prepaid meal board and cooks who would sometimes prepare off-menu requests for regulars.
Asian Seoul began as a food truck in 2019 before opening its John Wayne Parkway location in 2024. Stessel said the brand will continue through food truck pop-ups at the Copa Farmers Market and other events. InMaricopa also reported that a Korean family that previously ran a restaurant in Mesa is buying the space and equipment and plans to open a sushi and Korean concept.
